Is It a Cluster Originating from a Club or Another Regional Spread?... Coupang Logistics Center Becoming a Hotbed of Mass Infection (Comprehensive)

COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Regular Briefing
Bucheon Coupang Logistics Center, 36 Confirmed Cases…32 Employees and 4 Contacts
Authorities: "Cannot Conclude Club-Related Cases…Possibility of Another Cluster Infection"

A cluster of COVID-19 cases has occurred at the Coupang logistics center in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province. On the afternoon of the 27th, the Coupang Bucheon logistics center in Ojeong-dong, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi Province.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Daeyeol] As of noon on the 27th, 36 people have been confirmed positive for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) that spread at the Coupang logistics center in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province. Among them, 32 are employees working there, and the remaining 4 are cohabiting family members.

The first confirmed patient in the Coupang logistics center cluster infection is linked to a visitor of the Itaewon club in Seoul. However, the quarantine authorities stated that rather than simply connecting the two groups, they are also considering the possibility that these are separate cluster infections and are conducting investigations accordingly.

At the regular briefing, Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, said, "We are investigating the possibility that the Coupang logistics center cluster infection was transmitted through a different infection route, not from the 'index patient' who visited the Bucheon Raon Party buffet."

Initially, it was confirmed that an employee of the logistics center who tested positive on the 23rd had visited the Bucheon Raon Party buffet, which was linked to an Incheon academy instructor who had visited the Itaewon club. However, since other outbreaks have been continuously occurring in the Bucheon area, there is also the possibility that the cluster infection at the logistics center spread through another vector.

"Workers Since the 12th Requested to Undergo Testing and Self-Quarantine"
First Confirmed Patient Developed Symptoms on the 13th and Tested Positive Ten Days Later
Need for Quarantine Guidelines Reflecting Characteristics of Workplaces such as Logistics Centers

On the afternoon of the 27th, as Bucheon City announced a return from the 'everyday social distancing' system to the 'social distancing' system due to a surge in confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) related to the Coupang Bucheon logistics center, an emergency closure notice was posted at the entrance of the X-Game Park in Sangdong Lake Park, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do.

The quarantine authorities have requested that employees who worked at the logistics center since the 12th undergo diagnostic testing and self-quarantine. Additionally, if any family members of these employees are students or school staff, they are asked not to attend school, and if they work at medical institutions or social welfare facilities, work restrictions are requested.

According to the quarantine authorities and local governments, the number of people subject to testing related to the Coupang logistics center reaches about 4,000. As of the morning of this day, 1,920 people have been tested, with 36 confirmed positive. Head Jung said, "We believe infection can occur through contact in places such as the cafeteria, smoking rooms, shuttle buses, and workplaces," adding, "It likely started with one or two people but spread within the company through repeated exposure."

On the morning of the 27th, when confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) surged at the Coupang logistics center in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, health authorities are conducting a specimen test on a citizen at a screening clinic set up in the outdoor parking lot of the Bucheon Sports Complex in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province.

Regarding the first discovered patient, epidemiological investigation revealed that symptoms appeared on the 13th. Considering that transmission is possible two days before symptom onset, the patient was unprotected for about ten days. About 20% of those confirmed positive were asymptomatic at the time of testing. So far, many confirmed cases reported symptom onset around the 23rd.

Head Jung stated, "The basic principles of quarantine guidelines within workplaces are the same, but in applying them according to the characteristics of each workplace, they need to be more finely tuned depending on the type and nature," adding, "We will analyze the characteristics of logistics centers to identify areas for improvement."

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