Three Family Members in Gimpo Confirmed with COVID-19... "Suspected Cluster Infection at Hongcheon Camping Site"

On the 30th of last month, one day before the official opening of the beaches in Jeju Island, officials were setting up parasol tables at Hamdeok Beach in Jocheon-eup, Jeju City.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] A family of three living in Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi Province, has tested positive for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). It is presumed that they were infected through a cluster outbreak that occurred at a camping site in Hongcheon-gun. Although outdoor activities are generally considered relatively safe, the occurrence of cluster infections even at outdoor vacation spots has raised concerns about the need to strictly follow quarantine rules during the holiday season.

According to Gimpo-si on the 31st, a couple in their 30s and their child tested positive while under self-quarantine. This family had visited a camping site in Hongcheon-gun for three days starting from the 24th. At that time, a total of 18 people from 6 families, including this family, were staying there. Previously, three families, six people in total, including a couple from Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, and a couple from Sokcho, had tested positive.

Authorities believe that the cluster infection spread due to failure to properly follow quarantine rules at the camping site. It was confirmed that they ate together as a group, did not wear masks, and talked closely without maintaining social distancing. As of the morning of that day, nine people related to this group had tested positive, and the possibility of additional cases is not ruled out.

Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Director of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, said, "Even outdoors at vacation spots, environments with the '3Cs' (close contact, crowded places, and confined spaces) can easily occur, and in such cases, social distancing and mask-wearing are absolutely necessary." He added, "Vacations should preferably be taken in small groups or with family units, and group travel or dining increases the risk of COVID-19 cluster infections."

Meanwhile, as of midnight on the same day, 36 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed. Among them, 14 were infected within the local community: 8 in Seoul, 4 in Gyeonggi, and 2 in Gangwon. Including 12 cases detected during quarantine, 22 cases are presumed to be imported from overseas.

One death was reported the previous day, bringing the total number of deaths to 301. Currently, 821 patients are isolated and receiving treatment. Among the imported cases, Uzbekistan accounted for the highest number with 10 cases, followed by the United States with 4, the Philippines with 2, and one case each from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Mexico, Japan, Belarus, and France.

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