COVID-19 Surges from First Day of Holiday... Bucheon Yeongsaenggyo-Related Infections Exceed 100

48 Additional Confirmed Cases Related to Bucheon Yeongsaenggyo... Total 101
Re-spreading in Daily Life Including Bathhouses and Gatherings
New Cases Surpass 500 Since Previous Day... Rapid Increase

On the first day of the Lunar New Year holiday, the 11th, citizens are getting tested at a temporary COVID-19 screening site set up at Seoul Station Plaza. The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight that day, there were 504 new domestic COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 82,434. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Minwoo Lee] Signs of a resurgence of COVID-19 have appeared from the first day of the Lunar New Year holiday. The number of confirmed cases related to Yeongsaenggyo in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province has exceeded 100, while new infections are emerging one after another in everyday places such as gatherings of acquaintances, daycare centers, and bathhouses.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH), as of midnight on the 11th, 48 additional confirmed cases were reported in the cluster infection cases related to the Yeongsaenggyo Seungri Altar and the Ojeong Neungnyeok Supplementary Academy located in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province. This brings the total number of confirmed cases related to this matter to 101.

Among the 48 new confirmed cases, 44 are Yeongsaenggyo members and their families. Four are related to the supplementary academy. The CDCH stated, "The cluster infection related to Yeongsaenggyo is occurring in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, and it is estimated that 273 people have been exposed to confirmed cases. Currently, comprehensive testing and home quarantine are being conducted for these individuals, and additional cases may occur depending on future test results."

At a daycare center located in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, after the first patient was identified on the 2nd, 11 more tested positive during the investigation. Among the total 12 cases, including the index patient, there are 4 family members, 4 children enrolled, 2 family members of the children, and 2 teachers.

Regarding a gathering of acquaintances in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, a total of 47 people have tested positive since the 1st. Among them, 25 are related to the church cases 1 and 2, including the index patient; 17 are related to the daycare center, restaurant, and individual gatherings; and 5 are other contacts.

In Seo-gu, Incheon, 12 confirmed cases have been recorded since the first patient appeared on the 8th in family and acquaintance-related infection cases. Most were acquaintances and family members of confirmed cases. Additionally, in non-metropolitan areas, two bathhouses in Dongnae-gu, Busan, have reported confirmed cases among users and workers since the 8th. A total of 8 confirmed cases have been identified.

On the day before the holiday, new confirmed cases increased to the 500s for the first time in half a month. According to the CDCH, the previous day saw 467 new domestic cases and 37 imported cases. The numbers have been sharply rising from the 200s, with 288 on the 7th, 303 on the 8th, and 444 on the 9th.

Meanwhile, the proportion of patients with unknown infection routes and timing has risen to the 23% range. Among 5,511 new confirmed cases reported to health authorities over the past two weeks from the 29th of last month to today, 1,297 cases, or 23.5%, are currently under infection investigation. This is a slight increase compared to 22.6% the previous day.