Sporadic Small Group Infections at 34 Sites Across the Country … “More Dangerous Than Large-Scale Infections”

Long Line New Screening Clinic On the 15th, people waiting for a new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) diagnostic test line up at the National Medical Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. Usually the number of tests decreases during the holidays, but the number of test applicants has increased due to the recent spread of Corona 19. Reporter Song Eun-seok [email protected]

There are 48 confirmed cases of a new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) related to Lucky Sauna in Gangnam-gu, Seoul as of the 15th. It is not the scale of an explosive infection. However, after the first patient was discharged on the 26th of last month, on the 12th of this month, there is an average of 2 or 3 confirmed cases per day, with 4 confirmed as related confirmed cases. The same goes for the group infection in any nursing facility in Anyang and Gunpo, Gyeonggi, where the first confirmed person was confirmed on the 23rd of last month. The average number of confirmed cases per day was only around 7, but the number of related confirmed cases rose to 159 on the 15th (at 12:00 noon) as the chain of infection continued.

Although the recent mass infections that have occurred throughout the country are small in scale, the number of confirmed cases continues. According to the Central Defense Countermeasures Headquarters (Bangdaebon) on the 15th, 34 cases of group infections were announced that occurred recently or with additional confirmed cases during the last week (9-15 days). This means that there are at least 34 “currently ongoing” group infections that are still spreading.

Sook-young Lim, head of situation general manager Bang Dae-bon, explained: “Now, sporadic infections continue to occur in many places rather than large-scale outbreaks.” As a result of the analysis of the patterns of 34 groups of infections, there was only one case in which the accumulated number of confirmed cases exceeded 100. The rest are from 5 to 81 accumulated patients. Small-scale group infections focused on everyday spaces, such as the golf alumni gathering in Yongin, Gyeonggi (67 accumulated patients) and the group infection in Gapyeong-gun, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do, are constantly increasing the number of confirmed cases by producing an nth infection. It is a completely different pattern from the existing trends that led to the expansion of large groups such as the Church of Jesus Shincheonji in Daegu and Gyeongbuk (5213 confirmed cumulative cases) and the Sarangjeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul (1173 people).

The ‘daily infection’ continued on the 15th. The number of confirmed cases related to the meeting of acquaintances in Inje-gun, Gangwon-do was 29, totaling eight. In Cheorwon, 13 people were confirmed, including county office staff and faculty members. The number of workplace-related group infections in Asan, Chungcheongnam-do was confirmed as 14 additional workers, a total of 49. Small-scale infections are also emerging in medical institutions. At Chonnam National University Hospital in Gwangju, a total of eight people, including a neurosurgery specialist, another hospital doctor, and two nurses, were confirmed on the 15th. Chonnam National University Hospital closed its ward emergency room and neurosurgery room and decided not to accept patients until the 16th. Two people, including a nurse, were confirmed in the quarantine room of the Seongnam City Medical Center, Gyeonggi Province. Experts say that sporadic small group infections are more dangerous than large group infections. Jeong Ki-seok, Professor of Respiratory Medicine at Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, noted: “Infections such as ‘residual fire’ are evidence that Corona 19 is spreading deeply in daily life, and is more dangerous as it can turn into an explosive ‘great fire’ at any time. ” In fact, the average number of confirmed cases in the domestic community over the past week was 159.9, a sharp increase of more than 40 from 113.1 a week earlier the previous week. In the Gangwon region, the average daily number of confirmed patients for one week was 12.6, exceeding the social distancing standard of 1.5 steps (10 or more). The metro area also rose to 89.9, an increase of more than 24 from 65.1 a week earlier, close to the update standard (more than 100).

Even new virus mutations were identified. Quarantine authorities announced on the 14th that a group GV virus was found in a group infection at Daego and Jukjeon High School in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. The GH type group, which is the mainstream of domestic outbreaks after group infection at the Itaewon Club in Yongsan-gu, Seoul in May, has a maximum infectivity 9 times stronger than the previous SV group . The quarantine authorities explained that a pathogenicity difference between the GV group and the GH group has not yet been found.

Image [email protected] Go to reporter’s page> / Cheorwon = Lee In-mo / Gwangju = Lee Hyeong-ju