334 New COVID-19 Cases Overnight... Sharp Surge in Additional Confirmed Cases (Update)

Rapid Increase in Daegu and Gyeongbuk... Total Patients 1,595
Deaths Also Rise by 1 to 13

Ambulances carrying confirmed patients of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) are lined up at Keimyung University Daegu Dongsan Hospital. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Choi Dae-yeol, Kim Heung-soon, Jo Hyun-ui] A total of 334 new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) were identified in South Korea on the morning of the 27th alone. The number surged mainly in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions, bringing the total confirmed cases to 1,595. This is the largest daily increase since the first domestic case was reported on the 20th of last month. One death was reported, raising the total number of deaths in the country to 13.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for COVID-19, 307 new patients were registered in Daegu between the afternoon of the previous day and 9 a.m. on the 27th, within half a day. Among the newly confirmed cases on this day, 92% were from Daegu alone. The cumulative confirmed cases in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions reached 1,338, accounting for 84% of the total cases nationwide. Additionally, six new cases were reported in Seoul, and four each in Gyeonggi, Chungnam, and Gyeongbuk. Daejeon reported three new cases, while Ulsan, Chungbuk, and Gyeongnam each reported two new cases.

The rapid increase in patients in the Daegu area is due to the health authorities focusing diagnostic testing on members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in Daegu. After the 31st patient was confirmed, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters suspected a super-spreader event centered around the church facilities and its members, and prioritized testing for those with symptoms such as fever and cough among the church members in the Daegu area. According to Shincheonji, as of the afternoon of the previous day, 1,848 members had been tested. Among approximately 1,000 people whose first test results were available, over 80%, or 833, tested positive. It is highly likely that a similar proportion of positive cases will be found among the remaining 800 or so members, so additional confirmed cases are expected to increase soon. Furthermore, it is highly probable that after the 'super-spreader' event, these members engaged in social activities, spreading the virus throughout various parts of the region.

Meanwhile, as of 9 a.m. on the 27th, a total of 50,799 people (including confirmed cases) had undergone diagnostic testing, an increase of more than 11,863 compared to the previous day. By increasing diagnostic reagents and testing institutions, the diagnostic capacity has been raised to conduct over 10,000 tests per day. Among those tested, 35,298 people who tested negative have been released from quarantine, while 21,097 people are currently awaiting test results. A group of 148 Korean nationals who returned from Wuhan, China, in the third repatriation (including one voluntary admission) were discharged from the temporary facility at the Defense Language Institute in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, on this day. All of them tested negative in the diagnostic tests before discharge.