Seniors Aged 60 and Above Account for 41.4% of Cluster Infections in Gyeonggi Province in June

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hoon] In recent ten days, there have been 140 confirmed cases of COVID-19 from cluster infections in Gyeonggi Province, with those aged 60 and above accounting for 41.4%. In comparison, from January through May, seniors aged 60 and above made up 20.3% of the 851 confirmed cases from cluster infections, but in June, the proportion of those aged 60 and above has more than doubled to 41.4%.

Im Seung-gwan, co-director of Gyeonggi Province's COVID-19 Emergency Response Task Force (director of Gyeonggi Province Medical Center Anseong Hospital), announced details on confirmed cases in the province related to recent cluster outbreaks in the Seoul metropolitan area through a regular briefing on June 12.
Over a ten-day period beginning June 1, 140 cases were confirmed. Among these, those in their 60s numbered 37 cases, accounting for 16.4%; those in their 70s numbered 12 cases, accounting for 8.6%; and those aged 80 and above numbered 9 cases, accounting for 6.4%.

Director Im stated, "Confirmed cases continue to emerge at nursing homes, in-home welfare centers, and home care agencies, creating not only personal health concerns but also heavy burdens on securing medical resources such as intensive care beds," adding, "This is why our response to this Seoul metropolitan area outbreak must be even more thorough and meticulous."
He further emphasized, "Gyeonggi Province is working in cooperation with the Central Disaster Management Headquarters to secure resources for medical institutions and treatment centers."

As of midnight on June 12, there were a total of 18 new confirmed cases in the province: 11 related to Richway, 2 related to an exercise facility in Yangcheon-gu, and 1 imported case, with 4 new cases of community transmission whose infection routes are not yet clearly identified. The infection routes of these individuals are under epidemiological investigation.

As of midnight on June 12, confirmed cases in the province related to Richway, a multi-level health supplement sales company located in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, increased by 11 from the previous day to a total of 38.
Among the additional confirmed cases, 2 are close contacts of previously confirmed cases related to "Myeongseong Housing," located in Gangnam-gu, where the first confirmed case emerged on May 30 after visiting Richway. Three cases are close contacts related to "NBS Partners," a direct sales company in Bundang. Two additional confirmations were also made related to Prinsep English Academy in Gangnam, Seoul; these individuals are close contacts of a previously confirmed student at the academy, who was found to have worked part-time at Myeongseong Housing.

Four additional confirmed cases also emerged related to God's Church in Jung-won-gu, Seongnam. The additional confirmed cases are close contacts of a previously confirmed Seongnam NBS Partners sales representative and congregants of the same church, estimated to have been exposed through attending services together. The infection originating from Richway appears to have spread in succession through Seongnam NBS Partners to God's Church.

As of midnight on June 12, confirmed cases in the province related to the Yangcheon-gu, Seoul exercise facility increased by 2 to a total of 24, consisting of 6 related to the table tennis facility and 18 related to Big Tree Church in Yongin as a secondary transmission case. Among the additional confirmed cases, 1 was a close contact of a previously confirmed case and had been in self-quarantine since June 6. Another confirmed case was a close contact of a previously confirmed case at Gwangmyeong Senior Day Protection Center related to Big Tree Church in Yongin and had been in self-quarantine since June 9.
Diagnostic testing was conducted on 130 related individuals including users and staff of Gwangmyeong Welfare Center and a community children's center where the center is located, and all tested negative.

Meanwhile, as of midnight on June 12, confirmed cases in Gyeonggi Province increased by 18 from the previous day to 1,011 total. (11,003 nationwide) Among confirmed cases in Gyeonggi Province, 694 have recovered and discharged, with 295 currently in isolation at hospitals and treatment centers.