Prime Minister to Announce Strengthened Quarantine Measures Around 4:30 PM
The Hongdae area in Mapo-gu, Seoul, is quieter than usual on the 29th, the first weekend after the social distancing level in the metropolitan area was raised to Level 2. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Cheol-hyun] On the 28th, the number of new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in South Korea was recorded at 450. Additional confirmed cases continue to emerge nationwide, including at a table tennis center in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, a sports facility in Nowon-gu, a construction company in Seocho-gu, a dance class in Gangseo-gu, Janggu drum lessons in Busan and Ulsan, and a kimchi-making gathering in Jecheon-si, Chungbuk.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s Central Disease Control Headquarters announced on the 29th at midnight that the number of new domestic COVID-19 cases increased by 450, bringing the total to 33,824. This marks a decrease from the previous day, dropping below 500 for the first time in four days.
Of the 450 new cases reported that day, 413 were locally transmitted and 37 were imported. The number of locally transmitted cases remained in the 400s for the second consecutive day. The Seoul metropolitan area accounted for 263 cases: Seoul with 146, Gyeonggi with 95, and Incheon with 22. Outside the metropolitan area, cases were reported as follows: Busan 21, Chungbuk 20, Gangwon 19, Jeonnam 19, Jeonbuk 17, Gyeongnam 15, Chungnam 12, Gyeongbuk 11, Gwangju 6, Daejeon 6, Sejong 3, and Daegu 1.
Regarding major domestic outbreaks, since the first confirmed case at the Dongdaemun-gu table tennis center on the 26th, 10 additional cases have been confirmed during contact tracing, bringing the total to 11. At the Nowon-gu sports facility, since the first case on the 24th, 9 more cases were confirmed, totaling 10. At the Seocho-gu construction company, the first case was reported on the 26th, followed by 12 additional cases during contact tracing, totaling 13. In connection with a small app user group in Seoul, 4 more cases were confirmed during contact tracing, bringing the total to 26.
In relation to the Gangseo-gu dance class, 21 additional cases were confirmed during contact tracing, bringing the total to 176. At the Jungnang-gu sports facility II, 2 more cases were confirmed, totaling 20. At the Seocho-gu sauna, 7 additional cases were confirmed during contact tracing, totaling 78. Also, at the Seocho-gu sauna II, 3 more cases were confirmed, bringing the total to 66. At a church in Mapo-gu, Seoul, 11 additional cases were confirmed during quarantine and contact tracing, totaling 146.
At a kids’ cafe in Yongin-si, Gyeonggi, 6 more cases were confirmed during contact tracing, totaling 86. At a kimchi-making gathering in Jecheon-si, Chungbuk, 15 cases were confirmed during contact tracing, totaling 40. At a billiards senior-junior meeting in Cheongju-si, Chungbuk, 3 additional cases were confirmed, totaling 25. At a military base in Jangseong-gun, Jeonnam, since the first case on the 27th, 17 more cases were confirmed during contact tracing, totaling 18. Regarding Janggu drum lessons in Busan and Ulsan, 15 additional cases were confirmed during contact tracing, totaling 106. At a group training in Jinju-si, Gyeongnam, 5 more cases were confirmed during contact tracing, totaling 66. At a karaoke bar in Masanhwoin-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongnam, 4 additional cases were confirmed during contact tracing, totaling 28.
Among the 37 imported cases, the countries of presumed origin are as follows: the United States with 12 cases, the Philippines and Switzerland with 3 each, China, Russia, Indonesia, India, Ukraine, and Germany with 2 each, and Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Japan, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Mexico, and Ethiopia with 1 each. Of these confirmed cases, 27 are Korean nationals and 10 are foreigners.
The number of newly released from quarantine was 193, bringing the total released to 27,542 (81.42%), with 5,759 currently in isolation. There are 76 critically ill patients, and the death toll increased by 1 to a total of 523 (fatality rate 1.55%).
Although the number of confirmed cases is showing a slight decrease, this is partly due to a reduction of about 7,000 tests conducted over the weekend compared to the previous weekday. The health authorities expect the spread to continue for the time being, as cluster infections continue to occur in everyday settings such as family and acquaintances’ gatherings, schools, academies, and saunas.
Accordingly, the government plans to discuss raising the level of 'social distancing' at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting scheduled for the afternoon. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, who will preside over the meeting, will hold an emergency press briefing around 4:30 p.m. to announce strengthened quarantine measures related to the third wave of COVID-19.
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