Confirmed Case at Coupang Goyang Logistics Center... Goyang Logistics Center Closed (Comprehensive)

Following Bucheon, Goyang Logistics Center Also Closed... Concerns Over Spread to Other Logistics Centers

A COVID-19 cluster outbreak at a logistics center in Bucheon (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Cheol-hyun] Following the Bucheon logistics center, a confirmed COVID-19 case has also been reported at the Goyang logistics center of Coupang. Amid a significant increase in confirmed cases due to inadequate adherence to quarantine rules at the Bucheon logistics center, concerns are growing as confirmed cases have emerged at another large-scale Coupang logistics center.

On the 28th, Coupang announced that an office worker at the Goyang logistics center tested positive for COVID-19, leading to the complete closure of the Goyang logistics center. Coupang is working with health authorities to take necessary measures. According to Coupang, the employee underwent a COVID-19 test on the afternoon of the 26th after experiencing a fever and was confirmed positive at midnight (0:00 on the 28th). The employee was transferred to Incheon Medical Center on the morning of the 28th. The confirmed employee is an office worker at the Coupang Goyang logistics center and was last at work on the 26th of this month. Coupang immediately sent home and placed in self-quarantine all employees who had contact with the confirmed case. Additionally, on the 28th, all employees scheduled to work were sent text messages informing them of the closure of the Goyang logistics center and advising them to stay home. Coupang plans to continue providing necessary guidance and support to employees depending on future developments.

An epidemiological investigation is currently underway to determine any connection between the confirmed cases at the Goyang logistics center and those at the Bucheon logistics center. However, industry insiders explain that given the nature of Coupang logistics centers, which employ many short-term workers, it cannot be ruled out that someone who worked in Bucheon may have gone to work in Goyang. Furthermore, as the number of confirmed cases has surged significantly at the Bucheon logistics center due to inadequate compliance with quarantine rules, there are concerns that a large-scale outbreak could also occur at the Goyang logistics center.

Since the first confirmed case at the Bucheon logistics center, there have been ongoing criticisms that many people frequently came into contact without masks in places such as the cafeteria and break rooms. Park Neung-hoo, the 1st Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for COVID-19 (Minister of Health and Welfare), stated, "Due to the nature of logistics centers, where intensive labor is performed in a short time, it appears that workplace quarantine rules such as wearing masks and 'stay home if sick' were not properly followed." As a result, the number of confirmed cases related to the Bucheon logistics center has increased to 69 as of the morning of this day.

Considering that there may be workers who worked simultaneously in Bucheon and Goyang and that the working environments are similar, the industry consensus is that not only could a large-scale outbreak occur at the Goyang logistics center, but there is also a possibility of the virus spreading rapidly to other logistics centers. Coupang operates 168 logistics centers nationwide.

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