South Korea has confirmed that a super-spreader event has taken place, leading to a surge in COVID-19 cases. The event was reportedly a religious gathering held on May 9th in the city of Ulsan, where over 1,000 people were in attendance.
According to the South Korean government, at least 137 new cases have been linked to the gathering so far. However, the number is expected to rise as officials conduct more tests and trace contacts of those who attended the event.
The situation has prompted authorities to raise the social distancing level in Ulsan from Level 2 to Level 3, which is the highest level in the country's five-tier system. Under Level 3, all gatherings are banned, schools are closed, and only essential businesses are allowed to operate.
In addition to the measures taken in Ulsan, the South Korean government has also urged people nationwide to refrain from traveling or attending large gatherings during the upcoming long weekend, which starts on May 22nd.
The incident in Ulsan highlights the risk of super-spreader events, where a single person or group can infect a large number of people. Experts say that such events are often associated with indoor gatherings, where people are in close proximity and may not be wearing masks or practicing proper hygiene.
As of May 20th, South Korea has reported a total of 134,678 COVID-19 cases and 1,950 deaths. The country has been praised for its effective handling of the pandemic, with its aggressive testing and contact tracing strategies often cited as examples for other countries to follow.
However, the recent super-spreader event in Ulsan serves as a reminder that the virus is still a threat and that everyone must continue to take precautions to prevent its spread.