Nearly 600 COVID-19 Cases Confirmed... "Third Major Wave"

Highest Since Shincheonji Outbreak in March... Young Generation Infections Up 28% in One Month

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] On the 26th, the number of new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) reached 583, approaching 600. This is the first time in eight months that new confirmed cases have recorded in the 500s since the first wave in Daegu and Gyeongbuk caused by the Shincheonji Church of Jesus.

Not only is the increase of 201 cases from the previous day problematic, but skipping the 400s and soaring into the 500s has led to concerns that the 'third wave' has officially begun.

Among the 583 new confirmed cases on this day, 553 were locally transmitted and 30 were imported. The 553 local cases are the highest since the peak of the first wave in March. By region, Seoul reported 208 cases, Gyeonggi 177, and Incheon 17, with the metropolitan area alone accounting for 402 cases, or 72.7% of the total. The metropolitan area had maintained daily new cases in the 200s for six consecutive days since the 20th, but surged to the 400s on this day.

Outside the metropolitan area, Gyeongnam had the highest number with 45 cases. This was followed by Busan with 19, Chungnam and Jeonbuk with 16 each, Gwangju 14, Jeonnam 9, Gangwon and Chungbuk 8 each, Ulsan 6, Sejong 4, Gyeongbuk and Jeju 2 each, and Daegu and Daejeon 1 each.

Due to the rapid spread, health authorities appealed for thorough social distancing, warning that anyone could be infected with COVID-19. Park Neung-hoo, the first head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCHQ), said, "Today, the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases exceeded 500. It has been 18 days since the number surpassed 100 on November 8, and about eight months since recording 518 cases on March 6."

Park emphasized, "It has become a situation where it is not unusual for anyone, regardless of age or gender, to be infected anywhere in our daily lives. At a time when the third wave is increasing in scale and speed, more thorough social distancing is urgently needed."

In particular, recent cluster infections have been rapidly occurring in everyday places such as churches, saunas, entertainment bars, and academies, raising concerns among health authorities. The cumulative confirmed cases related to Hongdae Saegyo Church in Mapo-gu and a high school in Dongdaemun-gu have increased to 114, and confirmed cases related to two saunas in Seocho-gu, Seoul, have reached 110. Dozens of mass infections have also occurred at the Army 5th Division Recruit Training Center in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province, and an aerobics academy in Gangseo-gu, Seoul.

The Ministry of National Defense announced that, following the confirmation of 70 cases including 66 trainees and 4 officers at the Army 5th Division Recruit Training Center in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province, all soldiers' leaves and outings will be temporarily suspended until the 7th of next month, and the 'in-military social distancing' level for all units has been raised to level 2.5.

Park said, "Recent cases show that a chain infection starting at an apartment sauna led to over 100 confirmed cases, and more than 50 cluster infections occurred within a day or two at the aerobics academy and military training center. Especially, the spread among young people is serious, with the proportion of infected individuals in their 20s and 30s increasing to 28% in just one month." He added that there are 19 young critical patients requiring ventilators, highlighting the need for special caution among the younger generation.