Haeundae Large Hot Spring Bath Female 'Sesinsa' COVID-19 Positive Alert

Large Hot Spring Center with 1,500 Members and 600 Daily Visitors
Busan Health Authorities Concerned About Heavy Breathing and Droplet Infection During 'Ttaemiri'

On the morning of the 23rd, medical staff wearing protective suits are heading to the ward at a general hospital in Daegu. [Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] A female scrubber working at a large hot spring bath facility in Haeundae, Busan, tested positive for COVID-19, triggering an emergency response for quarantine.

This facility is a popular public bathhouse with about 600 visitors per day, raising concerns that it could become a new source of COVID-19 infection spread.

On the afternoon of the 27th, Busan City disclosed the movement path of patient number 277, A (from Nam-gu, Busan), and advised those who visited the women's bath on the 4th floor of the Haeundae Oncheon Center between the 16th and 24th of this month to get tested.

Patient A was confirmed positive on the 27th, and Busan health authorities believe that A was infected after contact with a confirmed patient from Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, at a family gathering held in Suncheon, Jeollanam-do on the 15th.

Concerns arose as it was revealed that A works as a scrubber in the women's bath of the Haeundae Oncheon Center, which has about 1,500 members.

According to Busan health authorities, A worked in the sauna for about 8 to 9 hours daily from the 16th to the 24th, except for the 18th and 22nd.

On the 25th, A stayed from 7 a.m. until midnight. Health authorities report that A showed mild symptoms starting on the 18th and have disclosed the movement path from the 16th.

Authorities estimate that A may have come into contact with 800 to 1,000 people. As of 8 p.m. on the 27th, the Haeundae-gu Health Center has conducted tests on 600 visitors to the Haeundae Oncheon Center and is awaiting results.

However, it is difficult to accurately determine how many people visited the Haeundae Oncheon Center. Bathhouses, classified as medium-risk multi-use facilities, began keeping visitor logs from the 21st when social distancing was raised to level 2.

A Busan city official expressed concern, saying, "If there was close proximity during the scrubbing process with heavy breathing and droplets flying, transmission is possible."

On the same day in Busan, six new confirmed cases were reported, including four contacts of confirmed patients from other regions. Four of them are presumed to have been infected after contact with a confirmed patient from Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, at a family gathering in Suncheon, Jeollanam-do on the 15th.

Additionally, one participant of the Gwanghwamun rally, who was not on Busan's list, and one person related to the Sasang-gu village community also tested positive. In Gyeongnam, a family member of a public institution head (Gyeongnam case number 208) involved in a group infection during a group trip in Gimhae was confirmed positive.

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