SEOUL, South Korea: South Korea has added 397 new cases to its coronavirus caseload in a 10th day of triple-digit increases, as the speed of viral spread nears the levels last seen during the worst of the outbreak in spring.
The resurgence, which began in the densely populated capital area before spreading to practically every major city and provincial town over the past week, is a major setback for the country that had been eager to tout its hard-won gains against the virus.
After avoiding stringent social distancing measures because of concerns over hurting the economy, officials have now banned large gatherings, closed nightspots, beaches and churches and removed fans from professional sports.
Sundays jump in infections marked the third consecutive day they’ve crossed 300. Most of the new cases come from the Seoul area, home to half of the countrys 51 million population where health workers have struggled to trace contacts tied to places likes churches, schools, restaurants and work.
Cases were also reported in other major cities such as Busan, Gwangju, Daejeon and Daegu, the epicenter of the previous major outbreak in late February and March.
The country managed to stabilize the situation in the Daegu area by April through aggressive testing and contact tracing. That approach worked because much of the infections had been tied to a single church congregation with thousands of members.
But its unclear the formula would be as effective now, with the virus spreading nationwide and new clusters popping up from unpredictable places and groups as people increasingly venture out in public.
In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region:
New cases of COVID-19 in Australias Victoria state ticked over 200 for the first time in three days with 17 deaths. Victoria reported 208 new cases Sunday. The latest fatalities took Australias national toll to 502 and Victorias to 415. Victoria Chief Health Officer Professor Peter Sutton said the overall trend in the state is positive. Next week, if we carry on like this, well see numbers below 150, he said. Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said more than 20,000 people were tested Saturday despite it being Melbournes wettest August day in 20 years. Melbourne residents have been told they will have to wear masks in public, even when strict lockdown regulations are eased next month. Sutton said the mask mandate would not be lifted until community transmission has been eradicated. Queensland state recorded two new cases Sunday, including a baby boy. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the boy, whose age and other details have not been released, is doing “very well. The baby is a family member of one of the cases linked to the outbreak at the Brisbane Youth Detention Center, where six were confirmed infected. Australias most populous state, New South Wales, reported four new cases Sunday. Australias central bank expects the national accounts, to be released on Sept. 2, will show the nation has suffered its first recession in nearly 30 years with two quarters of negative growth. The Reserve Bank expects the economy to have contracted about 7% in the June quarter.
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