<Anchor>

Corona 19 is spreading at a terrifying rate. There were 197 additional confirmed cases, of which 188 were infected in Korea, mostly from Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. From last Friday, the day before the holiday season, to today (17th), the number of confirmed patients recorded three digits every day, and more than 700 people were diagnosed for four days.

[Jung Eun-kyung/Director of Disease Control: If you do not control the outbreak right now, the number of confirmed cases will increase exponentially, leading to collapse of the medical system and enormous economic damage.] The

more worrying thing is that the virus is There are signs of spreading beyond the metropolitan area and now across the country.

The first news, reporter Jeong Da-eun.

<Reporter>

Of the 197 new confirmed cases, 188 confirmed cases in Korea, excluding foreign inflows.

Since the 14th, it has recorded 100 people for four consecutive days, showing a rapid spread.

In particular, 89 in Seoul, 67 in Gyeonggi and 7 in Incheon, most of which were concentrated in the metropolitan area.

In the case of confirmed cases in the metropolitan area, the contagious effect of church infection is large.

The number of confirmed cases related to the Sarang First Church in Seoul increased to 319.

Of the 4,000 congregation, 3,400 were quarantined, and 2,000 were examined.

As 16% of the people who have been tested are confirmed, rapid examination and quarantine is an urgent need.

As for Woori Jeil Church in Yongin, 131 have been confirmed so far, and the number of Paju Starbucks-related confirmed cases has increased to 42.

[Kim Kang-rip / Vice Minister of Health and Welfare: Group infections are occurring in various places such as churches, cafes, restaurants, and workplaces, and secondary infections are continuing in a series, which is a pattern that is entering the initial stage of a large-scale re-

emergence .] They are concerned that the spread is fast and that the outbreak area is spreading not only to the metropolitan area but also across the country.

[Eun-Kyung Jung/Director of Disease Control: The risk of infection is not limited to high-risk facilities, and the risk of anyone being exposed to corona infection anywhere is very high.] The

quarantine authorities have taken distance and quarantine measures if the current spread of infection continues. It is a policy to be strengthened.

(Video coverage: Kim Min-cheol, Video editing: Kim Jong-tae)