New virus cases spike to near 200, tougher restrictions under review
Officials at a Seosan public health center in South Chungcheong Province test visitors in a vehicle for COVID-19 on Nov. 13. The same day, eight members of Republic of Korea Air Force's 20th Fighter Wing stationed in the city tested positive with the virus. Courtesy of the Season public health center
South Korea's new coronavirus cases spiked to almost 200 Friday, the highest in 70 days, as sporadic cluster infections from informal gatherings continued to pop up across the nation, forcing health authorities to consider raising the social distancing scheme.
The country added 191 more COVID-19 cases, including 162 local infections, raising the total caseload to 28,133, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
The daily caseload was the highest since Sept. 4, marking a triple-digit growth for a sixth consecutive day.
Health authorities said many infections occurred at small gatherings of family and friends across the nation, expressing worries over sporadic infections on various occasions.
"If the current trend continues, we have to seriously consider raising the social distancing scheme, while some provincial governments have already raised it to Level 1.5," Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said in a meeting with senior health officials.
Chung expressed worries over large gatherings by labor and civic groups in Seoul and other regions over the weekend that could lead to an another spike in new virus cases.
"Although the organizers promised to abide by quarantine measures, (such gatherings) could lead to a major outbreak of COVID-19," Chung said. "I call for the groups put more priority in people's lives and safety, and reconsider their gatherings."
South Korea has kept the Level 1 social distancing scheme under a new five-tier system nationwide, although some cities and provincial governments upped their virus infection preventive measures.
Asan and Cheonan, both located in central South Chungcheong Province, adopted tougher measures last week. Wonju in Gangwon Province and Suncheon, located 415 kilometers south of Seoul, also raised their social distancing schemes to Level 1.5 this week.
Under Level 1, people are required to follow basic guidelines, such as wearing masks, and gatherings of over 500 people are not recommended.
People are still allowed to carry on with most of their daily routines under Level 1.5, but gatherings of 100 or more people will be regulated, though it is not a complete ban.
South Korean Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, second from right, leads the central disaster countermeasure meeting regarding COVID-19 pandemic at Government Complex Seoul in Jongno District, Nov. 13. Yonhap
The latest uptick comes as new rules mandating face masks in public places took effect on Friday after a 30-day grace period, to better combat the coronavirus.
People will face a fine of up to 100,000 won (about US$90) if they do not wear masks on public transportation and at demonstrations, as well as medical, religious and care facilities.
Among the locally transmitted cases, the capital city of Seoul accounted for 74 cases, and Gyeonggi Province that surrounds Seoul reported 36. Incheon, located west of Seoul, had three new patients. The greater Seoul area houses around half of the nation's population.
The number of new cases in the Seoul metropolitan area hit a three-week high since Oct. 23.
A total of 14 cases were traced to a military facility in Seoul and an insurance firm in western Seoul had 46 infections.
Cases tied to medical facilities and senior nursing homes in Gunpo, south of Seoul, came to 143, and an elementary school in Pocheon, north of Seoul, reached 22.
Other provinces also reported additional cases.
Gangwon Province gained 23 cases, while South Jeolla Province and South Chungcheong Province had nine and seven cases, respectively. Gwangju, located 330 kilometers south of Seoul, had five more.
The country added 29 imported cases.
Eleven cases were from the United States, while Russia and Europe accounted for five and four, respectively.
The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients came to 50, down 53 from Thursday.
South Korea reported one additional death, raising the total at 488.
The number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 133.
South Korea has carried out 2,761,411 COVID-19 tests, including 11,639 from the previous day. (Yonhap)