South Korea records 34 new Covid-19 cases, the highest in a month
South Korea has reported 34 new coronavirus cases,
the highest daily number in a month, after a small outbreak emerged around a
slew of nightclubs that a confirmed patient had visited.
Of the new cases announced on Sunday, 26 were
domestically transmitted infections and eight were imported cases, the Korea
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said.
The total was the highest since 9 April. After
battling the first major epidemic outside China, South Korea posted zero or
very few domestic cases over the past 10 days, with the daily tally hovering
around 10 or less in recent weeks.
The resurgence followed a small but growing
coronavirus outbreak centred around a handful of Seoul nightclubs, which a man
in his late 20s had visited before testing positive for the virus.
At least 15 people were traced to that man as of
Friday, and 14 of the 26 cases were reported from Seoul on Sunday, although the
KCDC did not specify how many were linked.
The outbreak prompted Seoul city to impose an
immediate temporary shutdown of all nightly entertainment facilities on
Saturday. The city said it is tracking down about 1,500 people who have gone to
the clubs, and has asked anyone who was there last weekend to self-isolate for
14 days and be tested.
The outbreak came just as South Korea has eased some
social distancing restrictions and is seeking to fully reopen schools and
businesses in line with a transition from an intensive social distancing
campaign to what it calls “distancing in daily life”.
President Moon Jae-in warned of a second wave of the
epidemic later this year, saying the recent cluster underscored the risks that
the virus which causes Covid-19 can spread widely again at any time.
“It’s not over until it’s over. While keeping
enhanced alertness until the end, we must never lower our guard regarding
epidemic prevention,” he said in a televised speech marking the third
anniversary of his inauguration.
“We are in a prolonged war. I ask everyone to comply
with safety precautions and rules until the situation is over even after
resuming daily lives.”
Widespread testing, intensive contact tracing and
tracking apps have helped Asia’s fourth largest economy largely contain the
epidemic without extensive lockdowns seen elsewhere.
As part of a long-term battle on Covid-19, the KCDC
will be given greater power and renamed the Disease Control and Prevention
Administration, Moon said. Local governments will set up their own epidemic
response systems with more experts.
“We will also push to establish hospitals
specialised in treating infectious diseases and a national infectious disease
research centre,” Moon said.
“These tasks are very urgent if we are to prepare
for the second epidemic wave that experts predict will hit this fall or
winter.”
