621 New COVID-19 Cases... 113 Cluster Infections at Namyangju Factory

600 Cases in 38 Days
Concerns Over '4th Wave' Surge

Factory Cluster Infections Continue
Many Migrant Workers Living Together in Dormitories

On the 16th, when snow fell mainly in the central region, citizens are getting tested at the temporary COVID-19 screening site set up at Seoul Station Plaza. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Chunhee Lee] The daily number of new COVID-19 cases in South Korea has risen to the 600s for the first time in 38 days. Separately, with 113 confirmed cases linked to a factory in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, and other cluster infections increasing, it is expected that the number of confirmed cases will rise further.

Since social distancing measures were eased on the 15th and the vaccination schedule was delayed compared to the plan, concerns are emerging that a fourth wave of the pandemic may hit.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, as of midnight on the 17th, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases increased by 621 from the previous day to 84,946. The infection routes were 590 local transmissions and 31 imported cases.

The daily number of new COVID-19 cases exceeding 600 is the first time in 38 days since 657 cases on the 10th of last month. Due to a decrease in the number of tests, the number of confirmed cases dropped to the 300s during the Lunar New Year holiday (11th?14th), but after the holiday ended on the 15th, the numbers quickly rose again to 343 → 457 → 621.

In particular, cluster infections from family gatherings during the Lunar New Year holiday and workplace outbreaks, which were a concern, have been confirmed one after another, so the number of confirmed cases this week, when the effects of the holiday are expected to fully appear, is projected to increase further.

A cluster infection of 113 people was confirmed at a factory in Jingeon-eup, Namyangju City, and cluster infections linked to a boiler factory in Asan City, Chungnam Province, surged to 122 cases. A significant number of these were migrant workers who mostly lived together in dormitories, indicating vulnerability in quarantine measures.

Professor Eunmi Cheon of the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Ewha Mokdong Hospital warned, "If the number of confirmed cases increases further due to the easing of social distancing, a fourth wave of the pandemic could occur."

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