Seoul Insurance Company Call Center Cluster Infection, 14 Confirmed Cases in Incheon Area... Contacts Being Traced

A COVID-19 cluster infection occurred at a call center on the 11th floor of the Korea Building in Sindorim-dong. On the 10th, quarantine officials from Guro-gu operated a screening clinic for residents in front of the Korea Building in Guro-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in the Incheon area is showing an increasing trend due to a cluster infection that started at a call center of an insurance company in Seoul.

According to Incheon City on the 10th, following 13 residents of Incheon working at the Ace Insurance call center in Sindorim-dong, Guro-gu, Seoul, one additional person who had contact with these confirmed cases tested positive.

A (54, male) living in Songdo International City tested positive for COVID-19 in the morning and was transferred to the negative pressure ward of Incheon Medical Center.

It was identified that A had dined at a restaurant in Michuhol-gu on the 6th, sitting at a table next to a confirmed case in Michuhol-gu.

From the morning of the next day, the 7th, he showed symptoms such as cough, sore throat, and muscle pain, and after visiting Yeonsu Public Health Center on the 9th for specimen testing, he was confirmed positive.

A’s wife (52) and two children, classified as close contacts, underwent specimen collection tests and are self-isolating at their home in Yeonsu-gu. With A’s confirmed diagnosis, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in Incheon has risen to 23.

Earlier, 13 employees of the call center residing in Incheon also tested positive in a mass infection and are receiving treatment at Incheon Medical Center.

The confirmed cases include four each from Michuhol-gu and Bupyeong-gu, two from Seo-gu, and one each from Namdong-gu, Yeonsu-gu, and Gyeyang-gu. They were found to have had recent contact with a 56-year-old female colleague who was confirmed positive in Nowon-gu, Seoul, on the 8th.

Meanwhile, specimen tests are being conducted on family members such as the husband and children of the confirmed call center workers residing in Incheon, increasing the likelihood of additional confirmed cases in the area.

The city stated that epidemiological investigations were conducted on nine of the 14 confirmed cases, and among the 44 contacts identified so far, 33 tested negative and one tested positive. Tests are ongoing for the remaining 10.

The movement paths of confirmed cases were initially identified through patient interviews, and disinfection measures were prioritized for locations requiring quarantine.

Furthermore, the scope of disclosure regarding the confirmed cases’ movement routes will be determined comprehensively based on the epidemiological investigation results, considering symptoms, mask-wearing status, duration of stay, exposure situations, and timing.

An official from Incheon City said, "Regarding the Ace Insurance call center cluster infection, specimen testing and initial investigation and disinfection measures for Incheon residents were carried out promptly," adding, "A secondary in-depth epidemiological investigation will be conducted using credit card usage records and CCTV footage for the confirmed cases, and disinfection and closure measures will be taken for any additionally identified locations."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.