Sokcho Alumni Association Trip → Workplace → Coworkers' Families... Concerns Over 'Vacation Infection'

Jung Eun-kyung: "From Classmates' Group Trip to Workplace Connection"

Jung Eun-kyung, Director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters (Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency), is holding a regular briefing on the afternoon of the 21st at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency in Cheongju, Chungbuk, regarding the domestic occurrence status of the novel coronavirus infection and the interim investigation results of confirmed patients. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Among a group of alumni who went on vacation to Sokcho, Gangwon Province, 17 people were collectively infected with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Concerns are rising that summer vacation spots may become new clusters of infection.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) announced on the 21st that a total of 17 cumulative COVID-19 confirmed cases were reported related to the alumni group who traveled to Sokcho.

According to the CDCH, the first confirmed case from the alumni group occurred on the 18th. Subsequently, after epidemiological investigations and specimen tests by health authorities, 16 additional cases were confirmed, resulting in a total of 17 cumulative confirmed cases.

By date, 4 cases were confirmed on the 18th, 11 on the 19th, and 2 on the 21st. By region, there were 3 cases in Seoul, 12 in Gyeonggi, and 2 in Incheon.

They traveled to Sokcho over two days, from the 9th to the 10th. Currently, health authorities are investigating the source and transmission routes of their infections.

The health authorities stated that there is concern that COVID-19 outbreaks may spread due to outdoor activities at summer vacation spots.

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the CDCH, emphasized, "The group trip of the Sokcho alumni eventually connects to workplaces, and after colleagues at work become infected, transmission to the families of those colleagues has been confirmed as a chain of infection. With the summer vacation and school breaks, various outdoor activities, travels, and gatherings are increasing, raising concerns about the spread of the outbreak."

She added, "This is the time when such cases are confirmed following travels at the end of July and early August. Due to the expansion of movement, there is a considerable risk of nationwide spread. We are continuously strengthening surveillance and investigations regarding this."

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