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S. Korea Faces New Outbreak, Churches Again a Concern

William Gallo

   SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - South Korea, which had effectively contained one
   of the world's first coronavirus outbreaks, is seeing a COVID-19
   resurgence, with officials warning the country could be on the verge of
   another large-scale eruption.

   Health authorities reported 197 cases Monday - the fourth consecutive
   day of triple digitnewinfections. That represents a major setback after
   having kept daily new cases mostly in the low-to-mid double digits
   formore thanfour months.

   The outbreak is especially concerning since most of the new cases are
   in the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area, home tomore thanhalf
   of the country's population. Seoul was not hit hardest by South Korea's
   first COVID-19 surge, which was centered around the southeastern city
   of Daegu in late February and early March.

   Though the number of daily infectionsisstill much lower than in the
   spring, authorities warn the current outbreak could be more dangerous.
   That is in part because the virus is spreading in multiple locations,
   whereas the country's spring outbreak mainly stemmed from a single
   religious community.

   "We are seeing cluster infections simultaneously and sporadically at
   various venues," including churches, cafes, and restaurants, said Vice
   Health Minister KimGanglipduring a Monday briefing. "These are the
   initial signs of a large-scale infection."

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