Sporadic cluster infections continue at goshiwons, hospitals... Gyeonggi Province appeals for social distancing participation

[Suwon Ilbo = Reporter Park No-hun] Sporadic infections continue to occur throughout Gyeonggi Province, including cluster infections at senior day care centers and goshiwons within the province.

Kim Jae-hun, director of the Gyeonggi Province Health and Welfare Bureau, held a regular press conference on the 11th and said, "While daily confirmed cases nationwide have decreased somewhat due to the effects of social distancing, the declining trend in the metropolitan area is not continuing clearly," and appealed, "Active participation of residents in social distancing is more important than ever to suppress COVID-19."

As of 0 o'clock on the 11th, the number of confirmed cases in Gyeonggi Province increased by 47 compared to 0 o'clock the previous day, reaching a total of 3,839 cases, with confirmed cases occurring in 15 cities and counties within the province.

The transmission routes of new confirmed cases include 11 cases related to Janghoewon Senior Day Care Center, 5 cases related to metropolitan online mountain cafe meetings, 3 cases related to Pyeongtaek Seohae-ro Church, and 3 cases related to Seongnam goshiwon. Among the new confirmed cases, 8 cases (17%) have unknown transmission routes, and 22 cases (46.8%) are elderly people aged 60 and older.

On the 10th, a total of 11 people, including 8 users and 3 staff members, tested positive at Janghoewon Senior Day Care Center in Icheon. One user of the center tested positive in North Chungcheong Province on the 9th, and infection was confirmed through full-scale testing of the center's users and workers. The province conducted full-scale testing of 36 users and staff including the confirmed cases, and the remaining 25 tested negative. The center has been temporarily closed, the external movement routes of the confirmed cases have been disclosed, and epidemiological investigations are underway for contacts including families of the confirmed cases.

Regarding the metropolitan mountain meeting cafe, 5 additional cases were confirmed on the 10th during contact investigations, bringing the cumulative confirmed cases to 18. The additional confirmed cases are 2 family members and 3 acquaintances, with the 3 acquaintances confirmed to have had contact with a confirmed case on the 29th of last month.

Regarding Pyeongtaek Seohae-ro Church, a parishioner of Seohae-ro Church who tested positive on the 26th of last month visited Anjoong Seoul Clinic, where 3 additional people—a nurse and visitors—tested positive, bringing the cumulative confirmed cases to 25. The hospital has been temporarily closed for two weeks and all 24 hospitalized patients have been discharged. Additionally, full-scale testing has been conducted on 19 hospital staff members and quarantine measures have been taken, and full-scale testing is planned for 1,129 outpatients and accompanying caregivers from August 24 to September 9.

On the 10th, 3 residents of a goshiwon in Seongnam tested positive. Previously, a resident of the goshiwon tested positive in Seoul on the 8th. Due to the nature of goshiwons where the kitchen, shower room, and restroom are shared, the infection is believed to have occurred through contact.

As of 0 o'clock on the 11th, Gyeonggi Province has secured 646 confirmed patient treatment beds at a total of 15 hospitals, with 476 beds currently in use representing 73.7% occupancy. As of 18:00 on the 10th, a total of 4 community treatment centers—Gyeonggi Metropolitan 2, and Community Treatment Centers No. 3, 4, and 5—have 435 residents admitted, showing a 46.4% operation rate. The remaining available capacity is 504 people.