Again, 400 people are concerned about re-proliferation of group infections… Risk factors always exist

In the last few days, the number of new coronavirus infections (Corona 19) confirmed in Korea has descended to 300, but it is a sign that it will increase again as group infections continue to occur everywhere.

In particular, in addition to cases of new outbreaks, the proportion of patients whose infection route is unknown still exceeds 20%, and there are concerns about whether Corona 19 is reproliferating as the’latent infection’ of the local community is still there.

The quarantine authorities see the Lunar New Year holidays (2.11-14), when large-scale population movements are expected, as a major milestone.

Accordingly, the government extended the existing’social distancing’ stage (the 2.5th stage in the metropolitan area, the 2nd stage in the non-metropolitan area) and the ban on private gatherings of 5 or more people until the Lunar New Year holidays.

◇ Reach 400 people in four days… Average daily regional occurrence for a week is likely to exceed 400 again

According to the Central Defense Countermeasure Headquarters (Bangdaebon) on the 3rd, there were 336 new cases of Corona 19 as of 0 o’clock the previous day.

31 people increased from the previous day (305), but continued to 300 for three consecutive days.

Although the number of tests reached about 50,000 and recovered to the level on weekdays, 300 confirmed cases were found. Accordingly, the positive rate also recorded 0.68%, dropping to half the level of the previous day (1.45%).

The third pandemic, which began in earnest from mid-November last year, showed a gradual decline in the new year, then turned to an increase last week, starting with the group infection of an unauthorized educational facility at the IM Mission, but has returned to 300.

Naturally, the average number of confirmed patients per week declined.

During the last week (1.27~2.2), the number of new confirmed cases per day recorded 559 → 497 → 469 → 456 (corrected from 458) → 355 → 305 → 336, an average of 425 per day. . Among them, the number of confirmed cases of regional outbreaks, which is a key indicator of the adjustment of the distance-taking stage, is about 395 per day on average, and has fallen back to the second stage range (over 300 people nationwide).

However, it is difficult to conclude that the spread of the 300 confirmed cases in the last three days has declined as the effect of weekends and holidays, which has significantly decreased in the number of tests, has been reflected.

In fact, the number of new confirmed cases to be announced as of 0 o’clock on this day is expected to rise to 400 again.

A total of 399 confirmed cases were counted between the quarantine authorities and local governments, such as Seoul, from 0:00 to 9:00 pm the previous day.

There were 102 more people than 297 people counted at the same time the day before.

Even considering the recent trend in which the number of confirmed cases does not increase significantly after 9 pm, it is expected to reach the early to mid-400 range.

◇ New group infections everywhere… 20% of cases of’unknown’ route of infection

The reason that the number of confirmed cases has increased again is that new cases of group infection have occurred in various places.

In a major case, nine detainees detained in Seoul’s southern prison have been confirmed, and an epidemiological investigation is currently underway. These confirmed cases are known to have been in charge of cooking in the prison, and additional infections may emerge.

In addition, at the Oriental Medical Hospital in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, a total of 20 patients, including patients, families, and workers, have been tested positive since the 27th of last month.

In addition, there were cases of new outbreaks in various places, including hospitals in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province (accumulated 14 people) and manufacturing industry in Siheung (11 people).

Other major quarantine indicators other than the new confirmed patients still have’warning lights’.

The proportion of patients with unknown infection routes rose to the 20% level on December 10 (20.5%) last year, and continues to be in the 20% range on the 55th day. Still, it means that 1 in 5 confirmed cases cannot even know when and where they were infected, which is a proof that a’quiet spread’ is still taking place somewhere.

Looking at the situation for the last two weeks (1.20-2.1), the infection route of 1,272, 22.2% of 5,736 new confirmed cases during this period, has not been identified.

Even in temporary screening tests designed to search for’hidden infected people’ in the metropolitan area, confirmed cases are steadily coming out.

During the last one week (1.27~2.2), 341 confirmed cases came out at the temporary screening test center, which accounts for 11.5% of the total area outbreaks (2,977) and about 20% of those in the metropolitan area (1,716). It corresponds.

One of the variables is the increase in foreign mutant viruses.

The mutant virus is known to have a much stronger spread than the existing virus, and 34 infected people have been confirmed since December 28 last year. Among them, 23 people were infected with mutations originating from the UK, 6 people were infected with mutations from South Africa, and 5 people were infected with mutations originating in Brazil.

The quarantine authorities repeatedly demanded compliance with the quarantine rules, saying, “It is not yet a situation where you can feel relieved due to the quiet propagation, etc. It is for each other to refrain from moving and keep distance until this New Year’s Day.”

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