Three Reasons Why the Spread Has Not Slowed 'Mibmanmu'... Countdown to Step 3

New COVID-19 Cases Reach 1,078...Record High Broken Again

[Asia Economy Reporters Seo So-jeong and Choi Dae-yeol] On the 16th, the number of new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) reached 1,078, marking the highest ever and entering the most critical phase. Following the entry into the 1,000s for the first time in nearly 11 months since the first domestic case on January 20, with 1,030 daily cases on the 13th, the record was broken again just three days later.

In response to the surge in confirmed cases, the government has begun the countdown to raising the 'social distancing' to level 3. From the 8th to the 28th, the government elevated social distancing in the metropolitan area to level 2.5 for three weeks and strengthened quarantine measures, but the spread is showing signs of prolongation. In particular, cluster infections linked to everyday settings such as family, acquaintances' gatherings, and workplaces are occurring, as well as outbreaks in nursing hospitals and religious facilities. Additionally, the severe cold has increased the virus's transmissibility, and with the government expanding free COVID-19 diagnostic testing to find 'hidden infected individuals,' the number of confirmed cases is expected to rise further.

① Cluster Infections Surge in Vulnerable Nursing Hospitals and Religious Facilities with 'Three Cs' Environment

Recently, cluster infections have reoccurred in vulnerable facilities such as nursing homes and nursing hospitals. As of the previous day, 62 patients and staff at the Ganaan Nursing Home in Gimje-si, Jeonbuk, tested positive, and the cumulative confirmed cases at Byeollae Chamsarang Nursing Home and Daycare Center in Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi Province, reached 33. Nursing hospitals are considered representative vulnerable facilities with a 'three Cs' environment: closed spaces, crowded places, and close-contact settings. Many elderly patients with underlying diseases and a significant number of patients unable to express themselves properly due to dementia make it easy for COVID-19 to spread uncontrollably.

Professor Eom Jung-sik of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Gachon University Gil Medical Center said, "Nursing homes, where vulnerable groups such as the elderly gather, are a typical blind spot," adding, "There is a shortage of medical staff who can control and monitor patients, and many places lack medical personnel capable of collecting specimens and conducting tests when suspicious symptoms arise."

Cluster infections in religious facilities, which had been rare for a while, are also occurring consecutively. Since December, there have been a total of 10 cluster outbreaks related to religious facilities nationwide, with 547 confirmed cases as of the 14th. At a church in Dangjin, Chungnam, a face-to-face prayer meeting was held with several churches from other regions, where about 50 people gathered in a poorly ventilated enclosed space for over two hours engaging in activities like singing praises and loud prayers, which generate many droplets (saliva). The cluster infection related to this church spread to welfare facilities in the same area and nearby churches and prayer centers, with a confirmed cumulative total of 112 cases.

② Delay in Proactive Response to Raise Social Distancing Levels

Experts analyze that the surge in confirmed cases resulted from the lack of proactive measures to raise social distancing levels. The quarantine authorities reorganized social distancing into five levels early last month and applied level 1 from the 7th of the same month. When new confirmed cases increased to the 200s mainly in the metropolitan area in mid-November, the level was raised to 1.5, and five days later, the metropolitan area was elevated to level 2. When daily confirmed cases reached around 500 at the end of November, from the 1st of this month, the metropolitan area was raised from level 2 to '2+α' with additional quarantine rules, but the situation worsened. From the 8th, the metropolitan area was raised to level 2.5 and nationwide to level 2, but as the spread did not subside, an internal review to raise to level 3 is underway.

Professor Lee Jae-gap of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital said, "It takes at least 1 to 2 weeks to see the effect of raising levels, and if confirmed cases surge temporarily, the current distancing system becomes ineffective," adding, "The government has hesitated to raise distancing levels so far, but if it does not move to level 3 this time, there will be regret again." The average daily new confirmed cases over the past week is 860.7. The average daily local transmission cases, a key indicator for adjusting distancing, also reached 833, meeting the conditions for level 3.

On the 16th, citizens are getting tested at the Jung-gu temporary screening clinic set up at Seoul Station Plaza. The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced that as of midnight, there were 1,078 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country, bringing the total to 45,442. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

③ Increase in Asymptomatic Patients Due to Free Testing to Find 'Hidden Infected Individuals'

As the government seeks to find 'hidden infected individuals,' the number of confirmed cases is likely to increase further. More people without symptoms or epidemiological links are undergoing free diagnostic testing, increasing the number of tests. According to the quarantine authorities, about 40% of confirmed cases were asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis. Including mild cases with slight fever or cough, there are many who may be infected with COVID-19 but have mild or no symptoms and may not even be aware of their infection.

The number of diagnostic tests conducted the previous day was 47,549, the highest since the COVID-19 outbreak in Korea. About 150 temporary screening clinics have been set up in areas with high floating populations in the metropolitan area for the same reason. On the previous day, 13,629 people were tested at temporary screening clinics. Earlier, on the 14th, 4,973 people were tested, and over two days, 19 confirmed cases were found: 17 in Seoul and 2 in Gyeonggi Province.

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