COVID-19 Daily Infections Continue... New Cases in Hospitals, Entertainment Venues, and Bathhouses

On the 19th, as the spread of COVID-19 continues, citizens and foreigners are waiting to be tested at a temporary screening clinic set up in the plaza of Guro Station in Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] COVID-19 infections are continuing nationwide.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) on the 20th, new cluster outbreaks linked to hospitals and entertainment establishments have been confirmed in the Seoul metropolitan area.

First, regarding a pediatric clinic located in Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi Province, a first confirmed case (index patient) was reported on the 15th, followed by a total of 16 confirmed cases including family members, staff, and visitors. Combining the CDCH tally (as of midnight) with the confirmed cases announced by Yongin-si, the total number of related confirmed cases reaches 18.

In Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province, visitors, employees, acquaintances, and family members linked to local entertainment establishments have consecutively tested positive, bringing the cumulative confirmed cases to 16.

The scale of infections in existing cluster outbreaks is also increasing daily. Regarding a social gathering in the metropolitan area, confirmed cases among attendees, family members, and acquaintances have continued, with 18 new cases added as of midnight, bringing the total confirmed cases to 27.

Confirmed cases related to the livestock products market in Anseong-si, Gyeonggi Province, also increased by 6, totaling 133.

New infection chains have also been identified in non-metropolitan areas. In Suseong-gu, Daegu, after the first confirmed case at a hospital on the 18th, contact tracing revealed that patients and family members tested positive, bringing the total confirmed cases to 5.

Transmission linked to bathhouses, where mask-wearing is difficult, has continued.

Regarding a bathhouse in Buk-gu, Ulsan, 7 more confirmed cases were added, bringing the total to 66. Among the 66 cases, 27 were users, 19 family members, 4 acquaintances, and 16 others.

In the case of a bathhouse in Jinju-si, Gyeongnam Province (Bathhouse No. 2), 5 more confirmed cases were added, totaling 204. Of the 204 confirmed cases, 200 were related to the bathhouse and 4 to a golf course. It is presumed that infections originating at the bathhouse spread to workplaces and other family members through family and relatives.

In Geoje-si, since the 19th, a total of 7 people including bathhouse users and family members have been infected. Confirmed cases related to Pilates and Zumba dance in Sokcho-si, Gangwon Province, increased by 7, totaling 27.

Meanwhile, about one in four confirmed cases did not know when or where they were infected.

Among 6,154 new confirmed cases reported in the recent two weeks from the 7th to this day, 1,558 cases are still under investigation for infection routes, accounting for 25.3% of the total.

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