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Today (23rd), the number of newly confirmed coronaviruses is expected to be around 300.

Although the number of confirmed cases fell back to 300 within a week, a mutant virus is spreading to local communities around the Yeongnam region, with nearly 80 confirmed cases coming out of the shipyard in Geoje, Gyeongsangnam-do.



This is reporter Jung Joon-ho.



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is a screening clinic installed near Okpo Shipyard in Geoje-si, Gyeongsangnam-do.



Long lines lined up from the morning as workers flocked to the test.



After the first confirmed cases came out on the 14th, 79 people have been confirmed so far in connection with this shipyard.



There have been 410 cumulative confirmed cases in Geoje over the past year, of which 142 have come out within the last 10 days, and 68 have been employees of this shipyard.



The shipyard ceased operations and conducted a preemptive inspection of 2,400 employees who had a lot of movement on site.



[Byeon Kwang-Yong/Geoje Market: After discussing the rapid and accurate total inspection method for all employees with the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an efficient plan to simultaneously work and quarantine...

.] The number of



mutant virus infections has increased to 249 cases, with 36 cases added since the last 15 days.



Of these, 26 cases were local community infections, and new mutations were found in Ulsan public baths and relatives' gatherings in the Yeongnam area.



Amid growing concerns about an increase in the amount of travel due to outdoor activities in spring, the city of Seoul decided to draw a lottery so that only 500 people per day for a week, instead of controlling some sections of Yeouido during the cherry blossoms next month.



However, yesterday, the number of confirmed cases nationwide was counted to 307, a decrease of 74 from the previous day by 9 pm, and the number of confirmed cases per day is expected to be less than 400 in a week.