There Are No More COVID-19 Safe Zones... Confirmed Cases Surge Nationwide

First Confirmed Cases Reported in Busan, Gangwon, Jeju, and Sejong
Total Cases Rise by 142 to 346; 2 Deaths Reported

On the afternoon of the 21st, when the second death from the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) occurred, a confirmed patient hospitalized at Cheongdo Daenam Hospital in Gyeongbuk was being transferred to Busan National University Hospital.

After the first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in South Korea, confirmed cases began to surge even in regions that had no cases for a month, effectively bringing the entire country under the direct influence of COVID-19.

On the 22nd, two confirmed cases were reported simultaneously in Gangwon Province. According to Chuncheon City, tests conducted on two women in their 30s residing in Chuncheon showed positive results in both the first and second rounds of testing.

The first test result was confirmed at 12:30 AM, and the second test was finalized at 10:00 AM.

They were known to have visited Daegu on the 16th and came into contact with patient number 31. Thus, they became the first confirmed COVID-19 cases in the province.

These women visited the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in Daegu on the 16th and then returned to Chuncheon. Afterward, they inquired at the city health center due to contact with Daegu patient number 31 but showed no symptoms and were self-isolating.

On the 22nd, Sejong City also reported its first confirmed case of COVID-19.

Sejong City announced that one confirmed case occurred that day. The confirmed patient is a man in his 30s.

He visited the Sejong City health center the previous afternoon and requested a COVID-19 test, stating, "I recently visited Daegu and may have come into contact with a confirmed patient." It was reported that he showed no symptoms at the time of the health center visit. Sejong City explained that any connection to Shincheonji has not yet been confirmed.

On the afternoon of the 21st, the stands of Bucheon Gymnasium in Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, where the women's professional basketball game between Bucheon KEB Hana Bank Women's Basketball Team and Busan BNK Sum Women's Professional Basketball Team was held, were completely empty. The game was conducted as a "no-audience match" due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

In Busan, where there had been no confirmed cases until now, two cases were reported within a day. According to Busan City, a 57-year-old woman, Ms. A, who visited Haeundae Paik Hospital at around 11:20 AM on the 21st, showed pneumonia symptoms and tested positive after diagnostic testing.

On the same day, a 19-year-old man, Mr. B, who visited the screening clinic at Daedong Hospital in Dongnae District, showed common cold symptoms such as cough, runny nose, and headache but also tested positive.

Similarly, Jeju Island, which had no confirmed COVID-19 cases for the past month, saw its defenses breached.

Jeju Island announced on the 21st that an active-duty soldier, Mr. A (22), who showed a positive reaction to COVID-19, was finally confirmed positive at 1:30 AM on the 21st following testing by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Park Yang-woo visited Yoido Full Gospel Church in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul on the 22nd to check the status of COVID-19 response and was applying hand sanitizer.

The number of COVID-19 patients surged by about 140 in just one day, showing an uncontrollable spread.

As of 9:00 AM on the 22nd, the Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that the total number of COVID-19 patients increased by 142 from 4:00 PM the previous day, reaching 346.

Among the confirmed cases, two are deaths. One was diagnosed with COVID-19 after dying on the 19th at Cheongdo Daenam Hospital, and the other died after being transferred from Cheongdo Daenam Hospital to Busan National University Hospital the previous day.

Of the 142 newly confirmed patients, 131 were from Daegu and Gyeongbuk. There were 103 cases in Gyeongbuk and 28 in Daegu.

Other cases were reported in Busan (2), Gyeonggi (2), Chungbuk (2), Daejeon (1), Gwangju (1), Jeonbuk (1), Sejong (1), and Jeju (1).

Nearly 20,000 people have undergone COVID-19 diagnostic testing.

Excluding confirmed patients, a total of 19,275 people have been tested. Among them, 13,794 were confirmed negative. The remaining 5,481 are still undergoing testing.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters releases updates on novel coronavirus patients twice daily at 10:00 AM (based on 9:00 AM data) and 5:00 PM (based on 4:00 PM data).