Signs of Full-Scale COVID-19 '4th Wave'... Concerns Over Workplace and Church Cluster Infections

27% of Patients Have Unclear Infection Routes

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Minji Lee] As signs of the '4th wave' of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) are becoming apparent, concerns about cluster infections are growing.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) on the 17th, several new cluster infections linked to workplaces, acquaintances' gatherings, churches, and schools have been confirmed. Among the newly confirmed cases reported to the health authorities over the past two weeks from the 4th of this month to the present, 26.8% were patients infected through cluster infections at multi-use facilities. Patients infected through contact with previously confirmed cases accounted for 41%.

At a shared office in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, after the first confirmed case on the 6th, 10 additional cases were identified through contact tracing, bringing the total confirmed cases to 11. Additionally, related to an acquaintances' travel gathering in Seoul, after the first confirmed case on the 9th, 11 more tested positive consecutively, totaling 12 cases.

In the case of a church and restaurant in Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi Province, a total of 15 confirmed cases have been reported since the 13th, and at a vocational school in Ansan-si, Gyeonggi Province, 12 people including students, family members, and acquaintances were infected during the same period. At a workplace in Dalseong-gun, Daegu, 6 confirmed cases have been identified since the 14th, and at a public institution in Gumi-si, Gyeongbuk Province, a total of 15 colleagues, family members, and acquaintances tested positive since the 14th.

Confirmed cases continue to increase in existing cluster outbreak cases as well. Related to a nightlife entertainment venue in Busan, 10 additional cases were identified during contact tracing, increasing the total confirmed cases to 476. Breaking down the infection routes in detail: 301 cases are related to the nightlife entertainment venue, 92 cases to a bathhouse and fitness center in Saha-gu, and 27 cases to an office complex building in Seo-gu.

Furthermore, the scale of cluster infections related to workplaces and churches in Cheongju-si, Chungbuk Province (total 15 cases), a university in Wanju-gun, Jeonbuk Province (21 cases), acquaintances and family gatherings in Damyang-gun, Jeonnam Province (17 cases), a general hospital in Jung-gu, Ulsan (30 cases), and family and acquaintances in Sasang-gu, Busan (25 cases) continues to grow.

The proportion of patients with unclear infection routes also approached 27%. From the 4th of this month to the present, a total of 8,712 new confirmed cases were reported to the health authorities over the past two weeks, of which the infection routes of 2,352 patients have not yet been identified.