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SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea reported 34 new cases of coronavirus, the highest daily number in a month, on Sunday after a small outbreak emerged around a series of nightclubs that a confirmed patient had visited.
Of the new cases, 26 were nationally transmitted infections and eight were imported cases, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said.
Sunday’s total was the highest since April 9. After battling the first major epidemic outside of China, South Korea recorded zero or very few internal cases in the past 10 days, with a daily count of around 10 or less in recent weeks.
The revival followed a small but growing coronavirus outbreak centered on a handful of Seoul nightclubs, which a man in his 20s had visited before testing positive for the virus.
At least 15 people were traced to that man as of Friday, and 14 of the 26 cases were reported from Seoul on Sunday, although the KCDC did not specify how many were linked.
Seoul city authorities say they have a list of about 1,500 people who have gone to the clubs, and authorities have asked anyone who was there last weekend to isolate themselves for 14 days and get tested.
The outbreak came just as South Korea has eased some restrictions on social distancing and is looking to reopen schools and businesses entirely.
President Moon Jae-in warned of a second wave of the epidemic, saying the recent group underscored the risks that the virus that causes COVID-19 could spread widely at any time.
“It will not end until it ends. As we maintain increased vigilance to the end, we must never let our guard down on epidemic prevention,” he said in a televised speech marking the third anniversary of its inauguration.
“It will be a long time before the COVID-19 outbreak is completely over. We must also prepare for the second wave of the pandemic.”
(Reporting by Hyonhee Shin; Edition by William Mallard)
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