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| Medical workers test daycare center children and their families at a drive-through center in the southwestern city of Gwangju, Monday, after two children at the center were confirmed to be infected with the virus. Yonhap |
By Bahk Eun-ji
Concern is growing over the safety of young children here as more preschoolers are falling victim to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to quarantine officials, Monday.
Preschool siblings attending daycare centers in Gwangju were confirmed to have coronavirus infection that day, following a series of confirmed cases among children a day earlier, including elementary school brothers in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province.
The two preschoolers, a girl, 6, and her brother, 4, in Gwangju, were confirmed to have had contact with their 70-year-old grandmother, who is among 110 patients in the region, according to the Gwangju Metropolitan Government. The health authorities will conduct full testing of children and teachers in the daycare center, and their family members.
In Seongnam, a first grader at Tancheon Elementary School and his third grader elder brother were also confirmed, to have contracted COVID-19, Sunday. The brothers aged seven and 10 who attend Mukhyeon Elementary School in Jungnang District are the younger brothers of an 11-year-old student who was the first confirmed case at the school.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) reported 48 new infections Sunday ― 24 local and 24 imported ― bringing the nation's total to 13,137. The daily tally marked a slight fall from 61 the previous day. One additional fatality was reported, bringing the death toll to 284; with a nationwide rate of 2.16 percent.
Among the local infections, seven were newly identified in Gwangju, followed by five each in Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, west of Seoul. Two were reported in Seoul, the KCDC said.
As of Sunday, seven new cases were reported as linked to Gwangneuk Temple in Gwangju, raising the total of such cases to 87. One infection was traced to Wangsung Church in Gwanak, Seoul, bringing the related cases to 36.
One hospital in the central city of Daejeon had a total of 10 patients, up one from the previous day. Daegu, once the hotbed of the country's virus outbreak, added no new infections.
Earlier in the day, 239 scientists from 32 countries sent an open letter to the World Health Organization (WHO), claiming that there was evidence showing the virus lingered in the air indoors, and the smaller particles present could infect people. This contradicts reports that the coronavirus spreads from person to person through small droplets in coughs and sneezes.
However, KCDC Chief Jeong Eun-kyeong said at a regular briefing at the Government Complex in Sejong that more study was required on this new mode of transmission.
"As far as I understand, it seems they raised the possibility of small droplets floating in the air longer and people becoming infected after breathing them into their respiratory system," Jeong said.
"Although the risk of airborne infection has been raised, it is more effective to prevent the virus infection by complying with quarantine practices such as wearing a mask, adhering to coughing etiquette, and ensuring adequate and frequent renewal of ventilation."
