코로나19 어제 126명 신규확진…감염경로 불분명 사례 급증
Concerns are mounting as the nation's virus tally continues its triple-digit streak for two weeks in a row.
With another record high in the number of cases with unidentified epidemiological links, the nation's senior health official has compared the situation to World War 3.
Kim Sung-min reports.
South Korea reported 1-hundred-26 new COVID-19 cases on Friday,... keeping the number of daily infections between 100 and 200 for 16 days in a row.
Of those, 1-hundred-9 were local transmissions with Seoul, Gyeonggi-do Province, and Incheon city seeing a combined 82 cases.
And the government says that because the majority of cases are in the capital region, that increases the risk of further virus spread.
"Since the recent surge in cases is centered on the capital region, it practically means that the virus is spreading to all parts of the country,... making it more dangerous than ever. In fact, the whole world is actually in the situation of fighting in World War 3."
Local cases stayed above 100 for three days, following the series of cluster infections at hot spots like care facilities and churches.
There are currently around 13 cases linked to the Kia Motors factory in Gyeonggi-do Province and the number of cases related to Yonsei Severance Hospital has now reached 46.
5 new deaths were reported on Friday bringing the death toll to 377.
Since most of the deaths are coming from the elderly, the government is asking them to stay home if possible.
Concerns are also growing as untraceable cases remain high.
The proportion of untraceable cases has been increasing for the past two weeks especially in the greater Seoul area,...reaching 26-point-eight percent on Friday.
The fact that people under 19 years old tend to be asymptomatic is also keeping health officials on high alert.
As a precautionary measure, the government has been advising people to stay home during the holiday, deciding not to remove the expressway toll this Chuseok.
Kim Sung-min, Arirang News
