Jeonnam COVID-19 Teen Patient, 40 Close Contacts Test Negative

Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jun-kyung] All 40 close contacts confirmed to have been in contact with a middle school student diagnosed with COVID-19 in Mokpo, Jeonnam, tested negative.

According to the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education on the 29th, all 40 people confirmed to have been in contact with the confirmed student from Mokpo Hadang Middle School at the local children's center (Education and Culture Community) and indoor sports facility (Boxing Master) from the 25th to the 26th tested negative this afternoon.

Initially, the Office of Education notified each school of a total of 48 people, including 35 related to the local children's center (8 schools) who were identified as having close contact with the student, and 13 related to the indoor sports facility (5 schools), and ordered mass testing.

However, the testing agency classified 8 out of the 48 as non-contacts and conducted mass testing on the 40 close contacts.

The Office of Education will continue to enforce self-quarantine for the close contacts regardless of the test results, and students of Mokpo Hadang Middle School will be allowed to self-isolate at the discretion of the school principal.

As soon as a first-year student at Mokpo Hadang Middle School was confirmed positive for COVID-19, a screening clinic was set up, and mass testing for infectious diseases was conducted on a total of 535 people, including all students and staff. The test results for the school are expected to be released around 10 p.m. today.

A parent in Mokpo expressed, "COVID-19 has suddenly spread to Jeonnam, which we believed to be relatively safe, so we cannot shake off our anxiety," adding, "The current situation is worrying whether children attend school or not."

An official from the Office of Education said, "We are urging for the test results to be released quickly to alleviate parents' anxiety as soon as possible," and added, "Fortunately, all close contacts tested negative, so we expect good results for the students of Mokpo Hadang Middle School."

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