Fight against coronavirus getting complicated
An inmate holds up a message through a window at Dongbu Detention Center in Seoul, Tuesday, to communicate to media personnel outside about the COVID-19 infection situation there. In the message, the inmate complains that eight infected patients are confined in one cell and sending out mail has been banned. Yonhap
By Bahk Eun-ji
The health authorities are on high alert as the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic here has been spreading in increasingly complex patterns.
There have been mass infections in geriatric hospitals and a correctional facility, while cases of a mutant strain originating from the United Kingdom that is 1.7 times more transmissible, have been confirmed in Korea, adding to the woes the government is facing in its antivirus fight.
According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), Thursday, 967 new COVID-19 infections were reported for Wednesday, including 940 local cases, raising the total caseload to 60,740. The country's total virus caseload broke the 60,000 mark the same day, 11 months after the first case was reported Jan. 20. It has taken just 10 days for the number to rise from 50,000 due to the third wave of the pandemic, which is proving to be more virulent.
The local transmission cases have mainly been tied to Dongbu Detention Center in southeastern Seoul, as well as geriatric hospitals and nursing homes in Namyangju and Goyang, Gyeonggi Province.
As of Thursday afternoon, 918 people linked to the center ― 897 former and current inmates and 21 correctional officers ― were confirmed to have been infected with the coronavirus. One prisoner there died of COVID-19 complications Dec. 27.
At a nursing home in Guro District in Seoul, 190 patients and staff members were infected, while another 105 were reported at a similar facility in Goyang.
In regard to the mass infections among inmates at the Dongbu Detention Center, Vice Justice Minister Lee Yong-gu apologized and vowed stricter antivirus measures and inspections at correctional facilities to ensure no further infections.
“This situation in the detention facilities arose from our failure to take antivirus steps in advance, and we apologize,” Lee said during a press briefing at the Government Complex Seoul, Thursday.
To prevent further infections, the ministry will conduct mass testing of all prison staff and inmates at all correctional facilities nationwide, and separate asymptomatic patients in areas within prison compounds or the surrounding neighborhood. Inmates' interviews with their lawyers will also be limited until Jan. 13.
As to the U.K. coronavirus variant, five cases have been confirmed since Monday. Concern is rising that if the variant takes root here, the virus will spread even faster and the current social distancing rules may be insufficient to curb infections.
The government has been under pressure to raise the country's social distancing guidelines to Level 3, the highest in its five-tier system, as the virus resurgence is showing no significant signs of abating under the current Level 2.5 which is scheduled to end this weekend. It will determine the next step during a meeting Saturday.