The number of new coronavirus confirmed cases is rapidly increasing, centering on churches in the metropolitan area, and the quarantine authorities are continuing a state of super tension.

According to the Central Defense Countermeasure Headquarters, as a result of a contact survey regarding Sarangjeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, as of 12 noon on the 17th, 70 more were confirmed than the previous day, and the cumulative number of confirmed cases was 319.

According to the distribution by region, Seoul has 209 people, Gyeonggi and Incheon, respectively, 85 and 13, and out of 12 non-capital regions, Chungnam is 5, Gangwon is 4, and Daegu-Gyeongbuk-Daejeon is 1 each.

Bang Dae-bon is conducting epidemiological investigations by seeing the major places where confirmed patients are exposed to call centers, visiting nursing centers, nursing hospitals, day care centers, and academies.

In relation to Woori Jeil Church in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, as a result of the examination of members and contacts, five more were confirmed, and the cumulative confirmed number increased to 131.

Regarding the Doomsaegim Church in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, four additional self-isolation patients were confirmed, resulting in a total of 11 confirmed cases.

Regarding the Yoido Full Gospel Church, three of the church members have been confirmed, but local governments believe that there are at least 10 confirmed.

It is recognized that there have been activities such as praise contests or music missions, and the exact route of infection is being investigated.

"As a result of conducting an epidemiological investigation on religious facilities," said Eun-kyung Jeong, head of Bang Dae-bon. "There is also a high risk of n-order propagation," he warned.

Headquarters Jung said, "In particular, with regard to Sarangjeil Church, group outbreaks related to the 2nd and 3rd spread are rapidly increasing."

In addition to churches, COVID-19 is gradually spreading to local communities as group infections occur simultaneously in offices, cafes, and schools.

The number of confirmed cases of group infection by'Gold Train', a gold investment company in Gangnam-gu, Seoul and a group of village residents in Yangpyeong-gun, was added, resulting in 58 cases.

The quarantine countermeasures headquarters checks the relationship between the two cases and manages them as one case.

In addition, after the first confirmed cases came out on the 14th in relation to'Orchestra', a software developer located in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, 6 people were added, resulting in 7 cumulative confirmed cases.

Regarding the Korea IT Academy located in Gangnam-gu, after the first confirmed case occurred on the 12th, 6 additional people were confirmed, and a total of 7 people were infected.

Regarding Euncheon Rehabilitation Nursing Hospital in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, one additional nurse at the Seoul Bukbu Hospital was confirmed, and the cumulative number of confirmed cases reached 10.

In addition, with regard to the Starbucks Paju opposition branch in Paju, Gyeonggi-do, 13 more were confirmed as of 12:00 noon on the day, and the cumulative confirmed number was 42.

In Gwangju and Busan, the infection spreads through entertainment facilities, schools, and families, and is spreading to non-metropolitan areas.

In Gwangju, 7 additional confirmed cases related to entertainment facilities in the Sangmu District have increased the cumulative number of confirmed cases to 14.

With regard to the family family in Yeonje-gu, Busan, one additional contact was confirmed, a total of 8 people, and with regard to Haeundae-gu technical high school, two students who are self-isolating and one contact person were confirmed, a total of 15 were confirmed.

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Bang Dae-bon headquarters, emphasized once again wearing a mask in an enclosed environment, saying that the possibility of spreading saliva droplets may be high in dense areas, and it is possible to spread through hand contact or other public facilities.

(Photo = Yonhap News)