COVID-19 Cases Surge by 505 in One Day... Highest Since Tracking Began (Summary)

Total Confirmed Cases 1,766

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] On the 27th, the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in South Korea increased by 505 in one day. This is the highest number of additional cases recorded in a single day since the counting began. The total number of patients surged to 1,766.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters for COVID-19, 171 additional cases were confirmed in the afternoon of that day. Among them, 139 were from the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions, while the rest were from Gyeonggi (7), Gyeongnam (7), Chungnam (5), Ulsan (5), Busan (3), Jeonbuk (2), Seoul (1), Daejeon (1), and Chungbuk (1). Earlier that morning, 334 cases were confirmed, making a total of 505 confirmed cases for the day.

Previously, on the 21st alone, 100 new cases were confirmed, followed by 229 on the 22nd, and 169 on the 23rd. On the 24th and 25th, 231 and 144 new patients were added respectively. The day before, 284 new cases were reported, marking the highest level since the counting began, but the number of new cases on this day nearly doubled that of the previous day.

The additional cases surged particularly in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions. This is believed to be due to the government’s focused testing centered on members of the Shincheonji Daegu Church, known as a 'super-spreader situation.' Kim Kang-lip, the first chief coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, stated in a regular briefing that morning, "Among 9,334 members of the Shincheonji Daegu Church, specimen collection for 1,299 symptomatic individuals with cough, fever, etc., was mostly completed the previous day, and specimen collection for the remaining patients is scheduled to be completed today. Diagnostic tests will also be conducted on all members during the quarantine period, including those without symptoms."

The number of patients released from quarantine also increased by two. The 24th patient (male, born in 1992) and the 65th patient (female, born in 1970) were each released from quarantine that day. This brings the total number of recovered patients to 26.

So far, the total number of people tested, including confirmed cases, has exceeded 60,000, reaching 64,886. This is 8,491 more than the count at 9 a.m. that day. Currently, 39,318 people have tested negative and been released from quarantine, while the remaining 25,568 are still under investigation.