Over the past four days until yesterday, Seoul reported 1,046 confirmed cases... Cumulative total surpasses 10,000

by Yoo Byeongdon

Published 06 Dec.2020 11:39(KST)

101st Death Occurs... Related to Gangseo-gu Sauna

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] In Seoul, the cumulative number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has exceeded 10,000 as more than 1,000 new cases have been reported over the past four days.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) and Seoul City on the 6th, the number of new confirmed cases in Seoul on the 5th was 254, ranking third highest since the COVID-19 outbreak began in January this year.

Among the new confirmed cases in Seoul, one was imported, and the remaining 253 were all locally transmitted.

The past four days hold the top four records for the highest number of new daily confirmed cases in Seoul: 295 on the 3rd, 262 on the 2nd, 254 on the 5th, and 235 on the 4th. The fifth highest was 212 cases on the 25th of last month.

According to Seoul City, the positivity rate on the 5th (the number of confirmed cases on the day divided by the number of tests conducted the previous day) was 2.7%, with 6,547 tests conducted, which was lower than usual due to the weekend effect.

Looking at the 15 days from the 21st of last month to the 5th of this month, the average number of daily tests was 8,045, the average daily confirmed cases were 192.3, and the average positivity rate was 2.4%.

Among the ongoing major cluster infections, new confirmed cases were reported related to ▲ Pagoda Town in Jongno-gu (21 cases), ▲ sauna in Dongjak-gu (15 cases), ▲ medical institution in Seongdong-gu (6 cases), ▲ Hongdae Saegyo Church in Mapo-gu (5 cases), and ▲ insurance company in Guro-gu (4 cases).

Additionally, new cases were reported at ▲ dance instruction-related facilities in Gangseo-gu (3 cases) and a hospital in Gangseo-gu derived from this cluster (1 case), as well as at ▲ Imyong Short-term Academy in Dongjak-gu (3 cases) and ▲ indoor sports facility II in Jungnang-gu (2 cases).

Furthermore, one new confirmed case each was reported at ▲ sauna II in Seocho-gu, ▲ Ji-hye Hospital in Dongdaemun-gu, ▲ call center in Yeongdeungpo-gu, ▲ acting academy in Gangnam-gu, ▲ Nowon-gu Office, ▲ Seoul Metropolitan Area Mountaineering Club (November), and ▲ a church in Yeongdeungpo-gu.

Besides officially separately counted cluster infections, 127 new cases were classified as 'other confirmed case contacts' involving small-scale transmissions of fewer than 10 people, 14 were contacts with confirmed cases from other cities or provinces, and 45 cases were under investigation for infection routes.

As of midnight on the 6th, the cumulative number of confirmed cases in Seoul was 10,205, with an incidence rate rounded to 105.0 cases per 100,000 population (based on the population as of the end of June this year). Seocho-gu had the highest incidence rate at 127.5 per 100,000, while Geumcheon-gu had the lowest at 60.7 per 100,000.

Among the cumulative confirmed cases in Seoul, 101 have died, 6,920 have been declared recovered and discharged, and 3,184 are currently in isolation and treatment.

On the 5th of this month, a resident of Dongjak-gu who was confirmed positive on the 9th of last month and had been receiving treatment died due to a cluster infection related to a sauna in Gangseo-gu, becoming Seoul's 101st COVID-19 death.

The first confirmed case in Seoul was reported on January 23. It took almost eight months until September 21 for the cumulative number of confirmed cases in Seoul to reach 5,000, but in just two and a half months thereafter, an additional 5,000 cases occurred.

The number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in Seoul surged rapidly in August this year due to cluster infections at Sarang Jeil Church and the Liberation Day rally, but the spread slowed in September as strong social distancing measures took effect.