One Taxi Driver Confirmed COVID-19 Positive in Hamyang, Gyeongnam... Strengthening Quarantine Measures to 'Level 2.5'

Close Contact Wife and Son Quarantined... Taxi Company Suspends Operations

On the 11th, four additional COVID-19 confirmed cases occurred, and officials are moving the access control line at the entrance of the Rehabilitation Hospital of Sinchon Severance Hospital in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporters Kim Yong-woo, Choi Soon-kyung] In Hamyang-gun, Gyeongnam, which had been maintained as a COVID-19 "clean area," a taxi driver in his 50s tested positive for COVID-19, increasing the total confirmed cases in Hamyang to two.

Seo Chun-soo, the governor of Hamyang-gun, Gyeongnam, held a press conference at 11:30 a.m. on the 11th in the multipurpose meeting room on the 3rd floor of the county office and announced that COVID-19 prevention measures would be strengthened by raising social distancing to level 2.5.

According to Hamyang-gun, at around 7:35 a.m. on the 11th, a male taxi driver in his 50s residing in Hamyang-eup, who works for "Hamyang Jirisan Call Taxi," was confirmed positive for COVID-19 (Gyeongnam case number 264, Hamyang case number 2).

This confirmed patient had visited Hamyang Hanmaeum Hospital three times on September 2nd, 5th, and 7th due to symptoms of fever, cough, and sputum, but as his condition did not improve, he was tested at the screening clinic of Hamyang Seongsim Hospital on the 10th and received a positive diagnosis on the 11th.

So far, two close contacts have been identified: his spouse and his son, who works as a post office delivery worker.

Hamyang-gun has ordered the suspension of operations for Jirisan Call Taxi, where the confirmed patient worked, and has placed 13 drivers under self-quarantine. Seongsim Hospital has been temporarily closed.

Self-quarantine and specimen collection are being conducted for 26 post office delivery workers, 2 restaurant workers in Baekjeon-myeon, and 5 staff members at Hanmaeum Hospital.

Starting from this day, Hamyang-gun has strengthened COVID-19 prevention measures by banning gatherings at all high-risk facilities, prohibiting in-person worship services at all religious facilities, restricting gatherings at medium-risk facilities, and raising prevention measures to social distancing level 2.5 or higher.

Governor Seo Chun-soo said, "To prevent the spread within the jurisdiction, we ask everyone to comply with personal hygiene rules such as wearing masks during daily life, washing hands, and practicing proper cough etiquette."

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