"Don't Know Where They Got Infected"... Undetected Cases Near 10% Share (Update)

Seoul Richway Confirmed Cases Increase to 29
Most Confirmed Cases Are Elderly, Oldest 86 Years Old

On the afternoon of the 5th, the entrance door of Richway, a health product door-to-door sales company in Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, was locked as middle-aged and elderly visitors and employees of the company have been consecutively confirmed positive for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases related to the door-to-door sales company Richway in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, increased by 19 in one day, reaching 29 as of noon on the 5th. Due to the long exposure period of two weeks and the fact that a significant number of confirmed cases so far are elderly, the quarantine authorities have also become alert.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters for COVID-19, regarding the Richway cluster infection, 18 cases were confirmed in Seoul, 5 in Gyeonggi, 4 each in Incheon and Chungnam, and 2 in Chungnam. This is three days after the first patient was identified on the 2nd. Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Director of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, urged at the regular briefing, "From the 21st of last month to the 3rd of this month, visitors to Richway and Buhwadang should get tested regardless of symptoms."

According to the quarantine authorities, many of the patients are elderly. Deputy Director Kwon said, "Most of the confirmed patients so far are in their 60s and 70s, with the oldest patient being 86 years old, so we consider the age group to be high," adding, "We are tracking 179 visitors other than employees."

The 17th Seoul International Dental Equipment Exhibition (SIDEX 2020) is being held on the 5th at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The Seoul Metropolitan Government recently issued an emergency gathering restriction order for the SIDEX event, stating that holding large-scale events is inappropriate amid concerns over the spread of local infections due to a recent cluster of COVID-19 cases in the metropolitan area. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

Clusters of Infection Increase in the Metropolitan Area, Number of Patients per Cluster Also Rises
New Cluster Infection Related to Church Emerges

Other cluster infections in the metropolitan area continue to add confirmed cases steadily. At the Bucheon Coupang Logistics Center, 4 more cases were added compared to the previous day, bringing the total to 124. Regarding the Metropolitan Pioneer Church, 10 additional cases were confirmed during the same period, totaling 76. In relation to the family cluster infection in Seocho-gu, Seoul, one more employee from the AXA Insurance call center in Jongno-gu, where a family member works, was confirmed, increasing the total to 7.

A new cluster infection related to a church has also emerged. At the Jesus Word Practice Church in Namdong-gu, Incheon, after the first patient was identified earlier this month, a total of 5 cases have been confirmed so far. So far, no connection has been identified with other church-related cluster infections such as the Metropolitan Pioneer Church, university student missionary groups, or pastor meetings in Gunpo and Anyang. Additionally, a middle school student in Dalseo-gu, Daegu, and a teacher at Gyeongbuk Food Science Meister High School in Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk, have been confirmed positive, and authorities are investigating the infection routes.

Proportion of 'Unknown Route Patients' Approaches 10%
Suspected Reports Exceed Those During Shincheonji in February-March

As sporadic cluster infections increase nationwide and new clusters emerge, the scope of quarantine management has expanded significantly. The problem is that the so-called 'unknown route patients,' whose infection routes are difficult to identify, are increasing. In the past two weeks, 51 patients are under investigation for infection routes, accounting for 9.7% of all confirmed cases during this period. The quarantine authorities had previously set a goal to keep this rate within 5% as one of the criteria to maintain the social distancing system. The current rate is about twice the standard.

Suspected reports of COVID-19 due to exposure to infected patients or symptoms such as fever and respiratory issues have also increased significantly. According to the quarantine authorities, the number of suspected reports received daily recently is around 17,000, which is equal to or higher than the level during the Shincheonji Jesus Church incident in late February and early March.

Deputy Director Kwon said, "In the metropolitan area, anyone can be infected if they are not careful in enclosed, crowded, and close-contact environments," adding, "The increase in suspected reports and the overall number of confirmed cases is undoubtedly a sign that makes the quarantine authorities very tense."