Gyeongnam Reports 27 New COVID-19 Cases... Total Confirmed Cases Reach 858

The number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) approached the 700 mark for three consecutive days. The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight on the 11th, 689 new domestic cases were reported. The 689 cases announced on this day represent the highest number in 286 days since the 909 cases recorded during the first major outbreak centered in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions, making it the second-largest number ever recorded. The photo shows medical staff in the negative pressure isolation ward at the National Medical Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the same day. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] Between the evening of the 12th and the 13th, 27 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Gyeongnam Province.

Except for two overseas entrants?a woman in her 30s from Geoje and a man in his 50s from Changwon?all cases are locally transmitted. Most of the new confirmed cases were infected through contact with confirmed patients within the province or from other regions. By area, there are 9 cases in Changwon, 8 in Miryang, 5 in Jinju, 3 in Yangsan, 1 in Gimhae, and 1 in Geoje.

Among them, four individuals residing in Changwon, numbered 836 and 839 to 841, had contact with patient number 736, who was confirmed positive on the 7th. Patient number 852 from Changwon is a middle school student attending a school in Jinju, related to the Geoje shipyard cluster. Symptoms appeared during self-quarantine, leading to testing.

The number of confirmed cases related to the Geoje shipyard cluster has also increased to 24. Among the 8 confirmed cases in Miryang, patients 846 and 859 had contact with confirmed cases linked to Miryang Yun Hospital.

The number of confirmed cases related to Miryang Yun Hospital has risen to 9. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and Gyeongnam Province epidemiologists plan to assess the risk level at Miryang Yun Hospital and, based on the results, decide on measures such as group quarantine and emergency room closure.

Among the confirmed cases in Yangsan, patient 855, and in Gimhae, patient 850, have been identified as having visited Seoul.

Whether they were infected in Seoul is currently under epidemiological investigation. Health authorities are investigating the infection routes and contacts for each confirmed case.

The cumulative number of confirmed cases in the province has increased to 858 (247 hospitalized, 609 discharged, 2 deceased).

Shin Jong-woo, Director of the Gyeongsangnam-do Welfare and Health Bureau, expressed concern, stating, "Although most of the new local infections are contacts of existing confirmed cases, the sequence of infection and the initial infection routes are unclear. It is a situation where anyone can be infected anytime and anywhere."

He added, "It is crucial to detect asymptomatic and latent infections widely spread throughout the community and to break the chain of transmission. We urge everyone to get tested promptly even if they experience mild symptoms."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.