COVID-19 Infections Continue in Seoul Metropolitan Area and Busan... Nursing Homes, Neighborhoods, and Bathhouses on Alert (Comprehensive)

Published 02 Oct.2020 16:13(KST)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] During the Chuseok holiday period, infections of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue in various places including the Seoul metropolitan area and Busan.

In particular, transmission is continuing in daily life settings such as gatherings among students, local clinics, bathhouses, and nursing homes, causing health authorities to remain on high alert.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) announced on the 2nd at 12 noon that a total of 8 people have been confirmed positive so far in relation to Daegi High School and Jukjeon High School in Yongin City, Gyeonggi Province, and that the exact source and route of infection are under investigation.

Regarding the two schools, after the first confirmed case was reported on the 30th of last month, 7 additional cases have been confirmed.

According to current findings, there are 4 confirmed cases related to Daegi High School including the index patient (first confirmed case), 2 confirmed cases related to Jukjeon High School, and 2 family members of Daegi High School students.

At a briefing on the same day, Kwak Jin, head of the patient management team at CDCH, explained, "The investigation revealed that on the night of September 25, 17 people including students from Daegi High School and Jukjeon High School gathered together in a park and consumed drinks and food together."

Mr. Kwak added, "Among the 17 attendees at the gathering, 6 have been confirmed positive, and subsequently, transmission occurred from students to their families, resulting in 2 additional confirmed cases."

In the Seoul metropolitan area, many infections have spread centered around existing cluster outbreak cases.

Regarding the 'Chaoreum Nursing Home' in Bucheon City, Gyeonggi Province, after the first confirmed case on the 23rd of last month, 3 more people tested positive, increasing the total confirmed cases to 4.

Among the confirmed cases, 2 are residents, 1 is a nursing assistant, and 1 is a nurse from the hospital where the residents were transferred.

In the case related to the residential-commercial complex 'Daewoo Dioville Plus' in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, one more confirmed case was added, bringing the total to 55.

In Busan, confirmed cases have been reported consecutively centered around local clinics and bathhouses.

Regarding 'Pyeonggang Clinic' in Geumjeong-gu, the number of confirmed cases increased by 2 compared to the previous day, totaling 12 confirmed cases.

Regarding 'Green Core Bathhouse' in Buk-gu, Busan, since the first confirmed case on the 27th of last month, 10 more cases have been confirmed consecutively, and currently, a total of 11 people are infected and receiving treatment. Among them, 8 are bathhouse visitors, and 3 are family members or colleagues.

The proportion of patients with unknown infection sources remained at the 18% level.

Among the 1,169 new confirmed cases reported from the 19th of last month to this day, 218 cases are under investigation for infection routes, accounting for 18.6% of new confirmed cases.

Meanwhile, among the 63 new confirmed cases counted as of midnight on the same day, 38 were male and 25 were female.

By age group, those in their 50s were the largest at 13 cases, followed by 11 in their 40s, 10 in their 30s, and 6 each in their teens, 20s, and 40s. Those aged 60 and above accounted for 33.3% of all new confirmed cases.

Currently, a total of 107 confirmed COVID-19 patients are in critical or severe condition.

Health authorities classify patients who require mechanical ventilation or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as 'critical patients,' and those who can breathe on their own but have decreased oxygen saturation and require oxygen therapy as 'severe patients.'