[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] As the impact of the third wave of COVID-19 continues, confirmed cases are emerging in various places. The scale of confirmed cases has been increasing daily, mainly centered on previously identified cluster outbreaks, and a new cluster infection linked to nursing hospitals, considered vulnerable to infection, has also emerged.
According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) on the 7th, since the first confirmed case (index patient) was reported on the 3rd at a nursing hospital in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 11 people have tested positive so far. Among them, 2 are staff including the index patient, 5 are patients, 1 is a caregiver, and 3 are family members and acquaintances.
At a nursing hospital in Namdong-gu, Incheon, 6 additional cases were confirmed, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 22. In relation to a nursing hospital in Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi Province, 10 more cases were added during contact tracing, increasing the total confirmed cases to 24. In addition, confirmed cases related to existing cluster outbreaks in the metropolitan area continue to rise steadily.
Regarding the foreigner cluster outbreak in Dongducheon-si, Gyeonggi Province, 14 additional cases were confirmed, raising the total to 146. The quarantine authorities and Dongducheon City are currently conducting contact tracing focused on the contacts of confirmed cases. In relation to a restaurant in Nowon-gu, Seoul, the total number of confirmed cases increased to 23. Also, in a gathering of acquaintances in Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi Province, a total of 12 people tested positive, and in relation to athletes and sports facilities in Yongin-si, the total confirmed cases rose to 66.
Outside the metropolitan area, a new cluster infection related to a family and sports facility was reported. Since the 3rd, a total of 8 people have tested positive in relation to a family and sports facility in Jung-gu, Daegu. Among them, 4 are family members including the index patient, and 4 are related to the sports facility. In addition, the scale of infections is increasing in the following cases: ▲ Food company in Cheongju-si, Chungbuk (8 cases) ▲ Meat processing company case 2 in Jincheon-gun (24 cases) ▲ Call center in Seo-gu, Gwangju (76 cases) ▲ Fitness center in Jeonju-si (66 cases) ▲ University student acquaintance gathering case 2 in Buk-gu, Daegu (34 cases) ▲ Church in Pohang-si, Gyeongbuk (11 cases) ▲ Church in Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon (47 cases).
Meanwhile, the proportion of patients who do not know when or where they were infected still exceeds 20%. Among the 5,479 newly confirmed cases reported to the quarantine authorities in the past two weeks from the 22nd to today, 1,262 cases are currently under investigation for infection routes, accounting for 23.0% of the total.
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