New virus infections up again; cluster outbreaks, imported cases in focus
March 21, 2020
SEOUL, March 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea saw a slight uptick in daily new infections of the novel coronavirus on Saturday as the country braced for sporadic cluster infections and a rise in imported cases.
The 147 new cases, which were detected Friday, brought the nation's total infections to 8,799, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). It was so far the second highest number of new cases this week following 152 new cases identified on Wednesday.
Of the 147 new cases, 69 are in Daegu and 40 are in North Gyeongsang, the KCDC said. The total number of confirmed cases in Daegu and North Gyeongsang, the two epicenters of the virus outbreak here, stood at 6,344 and 1,243, respectively.
Other major provinces and cities have also reported some infections, with Seoul identifying 15 additional cases and its surrounding Gyeonggi Province adding 12 more cases.
The country's death toll has surpassed 100 since it reported its first fatality a month ago.
As of 2 p.m., 104 people, mostly elderly patients with underlying illnesses, have died from the respiratory virus that emerged in China late last year, the KCDC said, adding that 62 virus patients are currently in critical condition.
About 57 percent of the country's confirmed cases have been linked to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus religious sect here.
The pace of daily new infections has shown marked signs of slowing since the second week of this month as health authorities completed extensive testing of 210,000 Shincheonji followers at the center of the rapid spread.
But the authorities are still on high alert over new clusters of infections, including at a call center in Seoul's Guro district and nursing hospitals in Daegu and surrounding North Gyeongsang Province.
Clusters of infections accounted for 80.7 percent of the total confirmed cases.
The KCDC said so far 148 cases have been founded to be linked to the call center in Seoul's Guro Ward, while 42 cases have been tied to Bundang Jesaeng Hospital in Seongnam, south of Seoul.
A total of 64 people have been infected at a nursing hospital in Daegu's Dalseong County, including 54 new cases identified on Friday. A nursing hospital in Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province, has so far reported 35 cases.
With cluster infections continue to emerge, South Korean Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun released a public message strongly urging people to suspend religious events and halt the operation of indoor sports and entertainment facilities for the next 15 days.
He added that the government could issue an administrative order to ban mass gatherings if its guidelines are not followed.
The total number of imported virus cases rose by six to 23.
To better control imported cases, South Korea will require all arrivals from European nations to get tested for the virus and self-isolate for two weeks starting Sunday, even if they receive negative test results. South Korea already tightened border checks for all people coming from abroad earlier this week.
Yoon Tae-ho, a senior health ministry official who is in charge of containment measures, said the government has prepared temporary shelters that can house a total of 1,000 travelers from Europe where they can stay and wait for test results.
South Korea has yet to consider conducting virus tests on arrivals from North American regions where COVID-19 cases are increasing rapidly.
Of the 80 people who arrived in South Korea on Thursday from virus-hit Iran, one tested positive for COVID-19 and was transferred to a hospital, according to Yoon. Other 79 evacuees were ordered to self-isolate at a temporary shelter in Seongnam, south of Seoul, he said.....:tiphat:
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20200321001353320
