Cluster Infections Spread in Construction Sites, Hospitals, and Markets... 37% of Infection Routes Unidentified

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyungsoo Park] Amid the ongoing 4th wave of COVID-19, cluster infections continue to occur at construction sites, markets, hospitals, nursing facilities, and sports facilities.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) on the 20th, 12 workers at a construction site in Suwon-si, Gyeonggi Province, have been consecutively confirmed positive for COVID-19 since the 15th.

At a manpower office in Seo-gu, Gwangju, a total of 15 cases have been confirmed since the 14th, and at a nursing facility in Gimje-si, Jeonbuk Province, a total of 7 cases have been confirmed since the 18th. At a specialized elderly hospital in Dong-gu, Daejeon, a total of 6 people have tested positive since the 17th. At an indoor sports facility in Dalseo-gu, Daegu, a total of 7 cases have been confirmed since the 17th, and at a market in Seo-gu, Busan, a total of 14 cases have been confirmed since the 17th. Additionally, a total of 12 cases have been confirmed since the 15th at a gathering of acquaintances in Yeongdo-gu, Busan.

The scale of infections in existing cluster outbreak cases is also steadily increasing. The number of confirmed cases related to Garak Agricultural and Marine Products Wholesale Market in Songpa-gu, Seoul, increased by 33, bringing the cumulative total to 341. Among the confirmed cases, 297 were market workers, the largest group, followed by 35 family members, 6 acquaintances, 2 users, and 1 other.

The number of confirmed cases in the Jungbu Market cluster infection in Jung-gu, Seoul, also increased by 22, bringing the cumulative total to 61. Among them, 55 were workers, 1 user, 4 family members, and 1 other were infected.

Confirmed cases related to a medical institution in Namdong-gu, Incheon, also increased by 25, bringing the cumulative total to 56. This includes 20 patients, 10 caregivers, 18 guardians, 7 workers, and 1 acquaintance.

Among patients confirmed positive in the past two weeks, 37.1% did not know when or where they were infected. From the 7th to the 20th of this month, 25,763 new confirmed cases were reported, of which 9,557 (37.1%) have an unidentified infection route.