Pohang City: All 82 Firefighters Exposed to 'COVID-19' Test Negative

No New COVID-19 Cases in Gyeongbuk Region as of Midnight on the 15th, Cumulative Total Remains 1,370

Mayor Lee Kang-deok of Pohang City presiding over the 'COVID-19' emergency response meeting on the 14th.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Dong-wook] Pohang City in Gyeongbuk announced on the 15th that all 82 people who had direct or indirect contact with the 55th confirmed case of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) tested negative after undergoing mass testing.

Amid concerns that a COVID-19 pandemic might be starting again centered around the metropolitan area, Pohang City is on high alert, significantly strengthening the local quarantine system to prevent community spread.

Earlier, a Pohang firefighter (39) who visited the home of a confirmed case in Yongin City, Gyeonggi Province on the 9th and 10th, was confirmed positive after being tested at Pohang Health Center on the 13th due to fever symptoms and was admitted to Andong Medical Center. This marks the first community infection in Pohang in 149 days since March 17.

According to Gyeongbuk Province on the 15th, as of midnight, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Gyeongbuk area remains unchanged at 1,370 from the previous day. The number of recovered patients and deaths also remain the same at 1,300 and 58, respectively. Twelve confirmed patients are receiving treatment at Andong Medical Center (8) and other hospitals in different cities and provinces (4).

Meanwhile, nationwide, the number of new confirmed COVID-19 cases as of midnight on the same day was 166, marking the highest figure in 157 days since March 11 (242 cases).

Accordingly, the government held a 'Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters Meeting' chaired by Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun in the afternoon to discuss raising social distancing to Level 2 and other measures.

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