Surge in COVID-19 Spread with Multiple Cluster Infections... Unknown Transmission Routes Reach Record High of 38.1%

On the 24th, citizens are lined up for COVID-19 testing at a screening clinic set up at Garak Market in Songpa-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] As the spread of COVID-19 intensifies, group infections continue across the country.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) on the 25th, new group infections were confirmed at weekly care centers in the metropolitan area. At a weekly care center in Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi Province, a total of 16 people, including 14 users, tested positive since the 23rd.

Outside the metropolitan area, new group outbreak cases were confirmed related to general hospitals, churches, and processing companies. At a general hospital in Nam-gu, Ulsan, after the first confirmed case on the 23rd of this month, a total of 7 people tested positive, including 3 patients and 2 staff members and family members each. Regarding a church in Buan-gun, Jeonbuk Province, a total of 9 people tested positive since the 21st, and at a poultry processing company in Dangjin, Chungnam Province, 8 workers were confirmed infected since the 23rd.

The scale of infections in existing cases is also increasing daily. In Seoul, related to the Garak Agricultural and Marine Products Wholesale Market in Songpa-gu, 66 new confirmed cases were added, bringing the total to 659. Related to Jungbu Market in Jung-gu, 16 additional cases increased the cumulative confirmed cases to 244, and related to Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital in Yongsan-gu, a total of 58 confirmed cases were reported. In Ongjin-gun, Incheon, 37 additional cases were confirmed related to a passenger ferry, bringing the cumulative confirmed cases to 70.

Regarding a foreign acquaintance gathering in Daegu, 64 additional cases were identified during contact tracing, bringing the total confirmed cases to 141. Also, related to a bathhouse in Seo-gu, Daegu, 5 more cases were added, totaling 104 confirmed cases, and another bathhouse in the same Seo-gu area saw the cumulative confirmed cases rise to 39.

Additionally, more confirmed cases emerged from group infection cases related to a delivery company in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon (total 26), an acquaintance gathering in Seo-gu, Gwangju (4th case, 9 people), an entertainment bar in Seo-gu, Gwangju (2nd case, 9 people), and entertainment facilities in Jeonju, Jeonbuk Province (45 people). Additional confirmed cases were also reported in cases related to a market in Seo-gu, Busan (39 people), companies and religious facilities in Geoje-si, Gyeongnam Province (50 people), foreign workers in Wonju-si, Gangwon Province (27 people), and an elementary school in Seogwipo-si, Jeju Province (45 people).

The proportion of patients whose infection source is unknown reached 38.1%, setting a new record for the second consecutive day. Among 27,179 newly reported confirmed cases to the health authorities over the past two weeks from the 12th of this month to today, 10,361 cases have yet to have their infection routes identified. The proportion of infections contracted after contact with previously confirmed cases such as family, acquaintances, or coworkers is 48.4% (13,156 people).