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Even on weekends, the screening clinic was crowded with people trying to get tested. With additional confirmed cases of breakthrough infections and concerns about the spread of delta mutations, the government announced today (18th) whether to extend the restrictions on private gatherings to non-metropolitan areas.
Reporter Kim Deok-hyun on the sidewalk.
<Reporter> There
is a long line in front of the screening clinic at the public health center.
An administrative order for preemptive testing was issued, and as there were a number of suspected cases of contact with confirmed patients, the inspection procession continued over the weekend.
[Jung Soon-young / Yangcheon-gu, Seoul: Because all restaurant-related workers have to take it. (It was a weekend) I didn't expect so many people to gather.] On the same day,
83,000 people, the largest number ever in Seoul alone, received diagnostic tests. It is expected not to.
The size of the confirmed case itself is large, and the delta mutation can lead to breakthrough infection, so the epidemic situation can worsen at any time.
At a hospital in Daejeon, 10 people, including patients, medical staff, and family members, have been confirmed so far, and 5 of them have been confirmed as breakthrough infections that have tested positive even after completing the second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine in May.
[Kwon Jun-wook / Director of the National Institute of Health (the day before): This is an emergency and a crisis. Breakthrough infections may also increase, and delta mutations will soon dominate the epidemic.]
In non-metropolitan areas, where the number of visitors during the holiday season has increased, the number of confirmed cases has exceeded 20% for the ninth day in a row.
The government is reviewing plans to limit the number of people allowed for private gatherings in non-metropolitan areas to a maximum of four and announcing the final plan today.