COVID-19, 52 New Cases in a Day...Nationwide 'Daeyuhaeng' Phase

Occurred in Chungbuk, Chungnam, and Gyeongnam as well... 156 cases in Korea
35 linked to Shincheonji Daegu Church
409 of first survey subjects report "symptoms"

[Asia Economy reporters Yang Nak-gyu, Choi Dae-yeol, Kim Heung-soon] On the 21st, the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) increased by 52. Including the 104 cases confirmed until the previous day, the total number of confirmed domestic cases reached 156 (as of 9 a.m.). Following the cluster outbreak in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions, patients have emerged in various areas such as Seoul, Gyeongnam, Chungnam, Chungbuk, Gyeonggi, Jeonbuk, Jeju, and Gwangju, marking the full-scale nationwide spread.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for COVID-19 on this day, 41 additional patients were confirmed overnight in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions, where 56 cases were reported the previous day. Among them, 35 patients are linked to the Shincheonji Daegu Church, 1 patient is related to Cheongdo Daenam Hospital, and the remaining 5 are under investigation for their connection to the region. However, Daegu City announced the number of additional confirmed cases as 50, showing a discrepancy. Additionally, 3 cases were reported in Seoul, 2 in Gyeongnam, and 1 each in Chungnam, Chungbuk, Gyeonggi, Jeonbuk, Jeju, and Gwangju.

Regarding the cluster infection cases related to Shincheonji Daegu Church, 39 additional patients were confirmed by region: 33 in Daegu, 2 in Gyeongbuk, 2 in Gyeongnam, 1 in Chungbuk, and 1 in Gwangju. The Daegu City Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced that among the 3,474 first-round survey targets of Shincheonji Daegu Church members, 409 responded that they have 'COVID-19 symptoms.' Additional confirmed cases related to this place may emerge.

No additional patients have been discharged after recovery as of this morning, maintaining the number of released patients at 16 among the confirmed cases. Among the confirmed patients, a man in his 60s who died of pneumonia symptoms at Cheongdo Daenam Hospital on the 19th tested positive for COVID-19 postmortem, bringing the total number of deaths among confirmed cases to one. As of 9 a.m., 14,660 suspected patients with fever, cough, and other symptoms after traveling to China and COVID-19 epidemic countries are under observation. This is an increase of 1,562 from 13,098 as of 1 p.m. the previous day. Among them, 11,953 tested negative, and 2,707 are still undergoing testing.

COVID-19 has also penetrated the military. After a soldier stationed at a naval base in Jeju Island was initially diagnosed with COVID-19, confirmed cases have surged across the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Lieutenant A of the Air Force, dispatched to the Air Force Meteorological Unit at Gyeryongdae in Gyeryong City, Chungnam, was confirmed positive for COVID-19 early this morning, followed by one confirmed case at an Army airborne unit located in Jeungpyeong, Chungbuk.