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| South Korean workers from Iraq, where the COVID-19 infection threat is worsening, enter an arrival gate inside Incheon International Airport, July 24. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul |
New cases of COVID-19 surged to an over three month high in South Korea, Saturday, as infections coming from overseas hit a new record.
Local cases also continued to rise by double-digit figures on cluster infections in the Seoul metropolitan area.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) reported 113 new coronavirus cases, raising the total caseload to 14,092. Of the newly added cases, 86 were imported.
The surge in imported cases was due to infected South Korean workers returning home from Iraq, Friday, and among Russian sailors on fishing vessels docked in Busan.
This was the first time since April 1 for the country to report more than 100 cases ― the number of daily cases peaked Feb. 29, when it reached 909. South Korea reported its first case, Jan. 20.
After falling below 30 for the first time in more than three weeks Monday, the number of new cases gradually increased throughout the week on locally transmitted cases tied to a nursing home, churches and a military base near the border with North Korea.
Imported cases have also increased by double digits daily for 30 consecutive days.
Of the imported cases, 36 were from Iraq, followed by 34 from Russia.
The Philippines accounted for five cases, and three cases came in from the United States, according to the KCDC.
The accumulated number of imported cases has now reached 2,244, with South Korean nationals accounting for 66.5 percent. Asian countries, excluding China, accounted for 42 percent, while the Americas made up 32.4 percent.
On Friday, around 300 South Korean workers were evacuated from the Middle Eastern country, with 90 of them reporting COVID-19 symptoms.
More related cases are feared in the near future as the health authorities are currently carrying out COVID-19 tests on more of the returned workers.
With regard to the Russia-flagged fishing vessels docked in Busan, the KCDC has reported at least 78 infections among the crews of eight ships docked there since June.
In a bid to stem further inflows of the virus, the government added six countries ― Bangladesh, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Philippines and Uzbekistan ― to a list of high-risk countries, with foreign arrivals from them required to submit a certificate showing they had tested negative for the coronavirus.
It is now considering adding Russia to the list.
The health authorities currently place all arrivals, including South Korean nationals, in a two-week quarantine, regardless of health certificates.
Of the 27 locally transmitted cases, 11 were in the capital.
A nursing home in western Seoul reported one new COVID-19 infection Friday, raising the total number of related cases to 21.
A church located in southern Seoul reported 10 new infections, raising the related cases to 18, as its members did not follow social distancing guidelines that banned gatherings other than regular worship services.
The surrounding Gyeonggi Province also reported 11 new infections. Busan added five cases.
South Korea has been raising its guard against imported cases, while easing social distancing as local infections had been judged to be under control.
The government will gradually allow spectators to attend sports events starting with baseball games Saturday. On Monday, the administration also reopened museums and libraries in the greater Seoul area.
It gave the go-ahead to all church gatherings as of Friday. Over the previous two weeks, meetings other than regular worship services had been banned.
The country's death toll stayed at 298, according to the KCDC, with the fatality rate falling slightly to 2.11 percent.
The number of fully recovered patients has reached 12,866, up 49 from the previous day.
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