New COVID-19 Cases Back to 400s... Emergency Ahead of Seol Holiday

Cluster Infections from Religious Facilities Emerge
Concerns Over Spread of Variant Virus Continue

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] As the 'weekend effect' of reduced testing volume leading to a decrease in confirmed cases fades, the number of new COVID-19 cases rose back to the 400s on the 10th. With the government identifying the Lunar New Year holiday, a period of high mobility, as a critical turning point for COVID-19 resurgence, the emergence of another cluster infection linked to religious facilities the previous day has heightened concerns over the quarantine situation.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight, 444 new domestic COVID-19 cases were confirmed, bringing the total to 81,930. Of these, 414 were locally transmitted and 30 were imported cases. On the 8th, the number of new cases fell to the 200s for the first time this year, raising cautious hopes for stabilization of the third wave. However, the number returned to a level similar to the same day last week (467 cases), making it impossible to feel secure during the Lunar New Year holiday.

In particular, a cluster infection occurred the previous day at the Yeongsaenggyo Seungri Altar religious facility in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, triggering an emergency alert for Lunar New Year quarantine. According to Bucheon City, 20 believers at the Yeongsaenggyo Seungri Altar tested positive for COVID-19. Additionally, 33 people including instructors and students at a private academy in Ojeong-dong were confirmed positive. Authorities suspect this is a chain infection linked to the religious group. It was found that one believer who tested positive while living in the Seungri Altar dormitory worked as an instructor at the private academy. Considering the workplaces of the believers and that some infected academy attendees attend other academies, there is considerable concern about further spread.

Moreover, the spread of variant viruses, known to have higher transmissibility compared to existing strains, is also a concern. The number of variant virus cases increased by 26 in one day, reaching a total of 80. Among these, four were infected in connection with a cluster outbreak among foreign relatives in Gyeongnam and Jeonnam provinces, likely representing local transmission. Particularly, although no direct contact history was confirmed with the cluster, proactive testing was conducted on 474 people who might have been exposed through work or other means, resulting in one additional positive case, raising alarm.

Accordingly, quarantine authorities are tightening measures and repeatedly urging compliance with quarantine rules during the Lunar New Year holiday. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun emphasized at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting on COVID-19 response that "The upcoming Lunar New Year holiday is a critical crossroads that could either end the current third wave, the greatest crisis ever, or reignite the dying embers."

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