112 out of 140 Contacts of Confirmed Case at KEPCO Hampyeong Branch Test Negative

13 Tests in Progress · 15 Tests Scheduled

On the 5th, Lee Sang-ik, the mayor of Hampyeong County, Jeollanam-do, held a press briefing regarding the first confirmed COVID-19 case in the region that occurred the previous day.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] In relation to the first confirmed COVID-19 case in the Hampyeong area of Jeonnam (an employee at KEPCO Hampyeong branch, residing in Nampyeong-eup, Naju City), Hampyeong County is making every effort to prevent further spread.

According to Hampyeong County on the 5th, out of 140 people identified as having contact with the 26th confirmed case in Jeonnam, who works at the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) Hampyeong branch, a total of 112 people, including 27 coworkers, tested negative. The remaining 13 are undergoing testing, and 15 are scheduled for testing.

Four family members of Ms. A (father, husband, son, daughter) and five employees of the family-operated cafe, totaling nine people, also tested negative according to the Jeonnam Health and Environment Research Institute.

The day before, a woman in her 50s, Ms. A, who works at the KEPCO Hampyeong branch, was confirmed positive for COVID-19 and classified as the 26th confirmed case in Jeonnam.

The county immediately conducted emergency disinfection of the facility, placed all employees who worked with Ms. A under self-quarantine, and temporarily closed the building.

Ms. A, residing in Nampyeong-eup, Naju City, reported early COVID-19 symptoms such as cough, fever, and muscle pain on July 1st and visited the Hampyeong County screening clinic on the morning of July 3rd.

The county requested a primary test of Ms. A’s specimen from a private testing institution (Samgwang Medical Foundation), and upon receiving a positive result the next day, immediately notified Naju City and transferred her to Gangjin Medical Center for isolation.

Ms. A was finally classified as the 26th confirmed case in Jeonnam after testing positive again in the secondary test conducted by the Jeonnam Health and Environment Research Institute, which was additionally requested by Naju City.

Ms. A, who had no underlying health conditions, is currently reported to be in relatively stable condition.

Since the day before the primary positive test, the county has been conducting an epidemiological investigation together with an emergency investigation team dispatched from Jeonnam Province.

Based on the confirmed patient’s statements, CCTV footage, mobile phone GPS data, and credit card usage records, they are accurately identifying contacts and detailed movement paths.

The confirmed movement paths identified so far include the workplace KEPCO Hampyeong branch and the following locations: ▲ June 29 - Gwangju Sangmu District Golf Academy ▲ June 30 - Naju Nampyeong Farmers Market Riverside Branch, Nampyeong Jeil Laundry, Nampyeong Seongmo Pharmacy ▲ July 1 - Hampyeong Yeomsolang Dakirang Restaurant ▲ July 2 - Hampyeong 5-day Market.

The county has temporarily closed the entire commercial area (one location) visited by Ms. A, including the KEPCO Hampyeong branch, and conducted emergency disinfection of multi-use facilities in the county.

Additionally, in cooperation with the Hampyeong Police Station, CCTV footage from key locations visited by Ms. A and her family has been secured to trace the source and route of infection.

Lee Sang-ik, Hampyeong County Governor, said, “Since Ms. A is responsible for civil affairs at work, residents who visited the KEPCO Hampyeong branch from June 29 to July 3, regardless of symptoms, are strongly urged to visit the county health center for testing. Currently, the county has temporarily suspended operations of multi-use facilities such as senior centers in each town and township, public job projects, and sports facilities. We plan to further strengthen necessary measures through consultations with related organizations.”

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