From group infection to mutant virus… Quarantine authorities “There is a possibility of the 4th outbreak”

Input 2021.02.04 14:58

Concerns that the ‘4th epidemic’ could begin as the first confirmed cases of coronavirus infection in the Hunting Pocha near Konkuk University entrance in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, and the first community group infection in Korea related to the mutant virus originating in the UK, increased.

According to the Central Defense Countermeasure Headquarters on the 4th, as of 0 o’clock on the day, 451 new coronavirus cases occurred in Korea. Following 467 the previous day, there were new confirmed cases in the mid-400 range for two consecutive days.

The city of Seoul announced that a total of 51 people were confirmed as a coronavirus outbreak in Huntingpocha located in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. The Seoul Metropolitan Government inspected a total of 1044 people, including those who were contacted by the facility. Excluding the first confirmed case, 50 were positive, 739 were negative, and the rest are being tested.

In the case of hunting pot tea, most of the visitors are young people in their 20s to 30s, so there is a high possibility that the infection will spread to local communities. This is because young people have a wide range of activities and movement. There are also concerns that the second large-scale group infection from the club in Itaewon will be reenacted in conjunction with the Lunar New Year holidays.

In addition, the first case of an overseas mutant virus, which is known to have stronger transmission power than the existing virus, has led to a group infection in the community, increasing the burden on the quarantine authorities.

Prime Minister Jeong Sye-gyun presided over a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on the 4th, saying, “Recently, a case where a mutant virus from the UK could not be blocked at the influx stage and spread to Korea was confirmed.” It is an urgent need to preemptively block the widespread spread to society.”

Currently, 39 confirmed cases were confirmed to be infected with the mutant virus (27 from the UK, 7 from South Africa, and 5 from Brazil). The quarantine authorities are tense, as some cases of mutant virus infections originating in the UK have remained positive even after 23 days have passed since the diagnosis. Existing viruses change to negative after 10 days after being confirmed, but mutant viruses are known to have a much stronger persistence.

As the number of new confirmed cases has recently increased again as a result of the spread of mass infections to mutant viruses, the government also officially mentioned the possibility of a fourth outbreak coming from March to April.

Yoon Tae-ho, head of the Central Accident Control Headquarters (heavy water version), said in a related inquiry at the corona back briefing on the 4th, “The outbreak may come again in March and April, so we need to prepare for this.”

Experts also said that when the weather gets warmer, there is a high possibility that the corona will spread rapidly again due to more people’s activities.

Eun-mi Chun, a professor of respiratory medicine at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, said, “If the virus is introduced and the weather warms in March-April, there is a high possibility that it will spread to the fourth outbreak again.” In order to reduce the number of people, it is necessary to encourage working from home and refrain from social activities.”

Lee Jae-gap, professor of infectious medicine at Hallym University’s Gangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, said, “If the amount of movement increases during the Lunar New Year holiday, the 4th epidemic can come anytime.” He emphasized.