All but one new patient are in the Seoul Metropolitan Area
Health authorities urge restraint in face-to-face gatherings
[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] On the 2nd, one day before the third school reopening, 38 new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) were identified in South Korea. Due to the impact of cluster infections originating from small church gatherings mainly in the metropolitan area, the daily number of new confirmed cases remained in the 30s for the second consecutive day.
The Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) announced that as of midnight on this day, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases increased by 38 from the previous day to 11,541.
The number of new confirmed cases had been on a downward trend from the 28th to the 31st of last month, decreasing from 79 to 58, then 39, and 27, as infections related to the Itaewon clubs and the Coupang logistics center in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, declined. However, due to the impact of cluster infections at churches in the metropolitan area, the number began to rise again from the previous day.
Among the new patients, all but one were from the metropolitan area: 14 in Seoul, 8 in Incheon, and 15 in Gyeonggi Province. There were 36 domestic cases and 2 imported cases. The domestic cases were distributed as 13 in Seoul, 8 in Incheon, and 15 in Gyeonggi. The imported cases included 1 in Seoul and 1 detected through airport quarantine.
In Incheon, five additional confirmed cases were reported in connection with a pioneering church. The total number of confirmed cases related to the Incheon pioneering church, including patient number 209 who is presumed to be the source of infection, has risen to 34. As signs of the church-related cluster infection spreading appeared, health authorities repeatedly urged people to refrain from small gatherings.
At the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting held on this day, Park Neung-hoo, the first director, urged residents in the metropolitan area to refrain from face-to-face meetings such as retreats and Bible studies until the risk of infection decreases. Director Park warned, "Due to the nature of small religious gatherings among close acquaintances, it is difficult to comply with preventive measures such as wearing masks and hand washing, increasing the possibility of infection transmission," adding, "Multiple religious facilities being exposed simultaneously could lead to a larger cluster infection."
The number of patients who have been declared fully recovered and released from isolation increased by 24 from the previous day to 10,446. The death toll rose by one to 272.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced on this day that it is providing comprehensive support from drug development to supply to overcome the COVID-19 crisis. To ensure smooth supply of essential medicines that the country depends on imports for, the ministry is partially waiving domestic quality inspections and recognizing test certificates from overseas manufacturers. For clinical trials involving patients, medical institutions not designated as clinical trial institutions are also allowed to participate in the trials.
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