Chungnam COVID-19 Cluster Outbreak Traced to 'Zumba Workshop'...Officially Identified by Health Authorities

Provided by the Central Disease Control Headquarters

[Asia Economy (Naepo) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] An official investigation by health authorities revealed that a Zumba dance workshop centered in Cheonan was the fundamental cause of the spread of infectious diseases.

The investigation concluded that COVID-19 confirmed cases surged in five cities and provinces nationwide, including Cheonan, through a Zumba dance class instructor who attended the workshop. However, the report added a caveat that various possibilities remain open regarding the primary source of infection, and further investigations are ongoing.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters and Chungnam Disease Control Headquarters on the 26th, the Zumba dance workshop was held in Cheonan on the 15th of last month, and the cluster infection linked to the Zumba dance class began in Cheonan on the 24th of last month.

The onset of symptoms among confirmed cases occurred between the 18th of last month and the 12th of this month. Subsequently, the Zumba dance instructors were infected between February 18th and 24th, the students between February 20th and March 9th, and the families and acquaintances of the students between February 22nd and March 12th, indicating the spread of COVID-19.

A total of 27 instructors attended the workshop, of whom 8 were confirmed positive for COVID-19. By region of activity, the distribution was 5 in Chungnam, 1 in Seoul, 1 in Sejong, and 1 in Daegu.

COVID-19 spread rapidly in the regions where these instructors were active, resulting in transmission up to the fourth generation. However, the instructor from Daegu developed symptoms after the workshop, and was assessed to have a low likelihood of being the primary source of infection.

Provided by the Central Disease Control Headquarters

After the workshop, a total of 116 patients were confirmed positive for COVID-19 through Zumba instructors (dance classes). The distribution of confirmed cases was concentrated in Cheonan, where the workshop was held (95 cases), followed by Asan (8 cases), Sejong (8 cases), Daegu (2 cases), Gyeonggi (2 cases), and Seoul (1 case).

The composition of confirmed cases included 8 instructors (6.9%), 57 students (49.1%), and 51 family members and acquaintances of instructors and students (44.1%). The average age was 39.1 years, and females accounted for the majority with 87 cases (75% of the total).

At the time of confirmation, these patients mainly exhibited symptoms such as fever or chills (20.8%), cough (20.8%), sore throat (17.8%), and muscle pain (13.9%). Conversely, 24.8% of confirmed cases reported no symptoms, according to health authorities.

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, stated, “Engaging in intense physical exercise (such as Zumba dance) in confined spaces can maximize droplet transmission, producing many infections. Considering this, this investigation confirmed that multi-use facilities can become sources of community transmission.” She added, “We urge the public to refrain from using exercise facilities and multi-use facilities where many people gather for the time being.”

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