Ahead of Hangul Day, 7 Family Members Confirmed COVID-19 Positive in Daejeon... Concerns Over Local Resurgence Increase

Citizens are lining up to receive COVID-19 diagnostic tests at public health centers in Daejeon. Provided by Daejeon City

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] A family of seven in Daejeon has tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). It was confirmed that they met during the Chuseok holiday, completed their ancestral grave trimming, and had a meal together. Concerned about the spread of COVID-19 in the region through Chuseok gatherings, the Daejeon city government has urged people to refrain from meeting acquaintances and has banned on-site rallies on Hangeul Day.

◆Increase in confirmed cases after Chuseok holiday = According to the city on the 8th, a man in his 70s, Mr. A (Daejeon case number 370), residing in Oryu-dong, Jung-gu, along with his son, daughter-in-law, daughter, son-in-law, grandson, and granddaughter?a total of seven family members?tested positive for COVID-19.

During the epidemiological investigation, it was confirmed that on the 1st, they traveled to Yecheon-gun, Gyeongbuk Province, using two vehicles to trim ancestral graves and then had a meal together.

The issue is that the trend of confirmed cases in the region, which had been in a lull around the 20th of last month, is showing signs of increasing again, including Mr. A’s family.

At one point, Daejeon saw a rapid increase in cases linked to door-to-door sales and other activities, but the number of confirmed cases gradually decreased to 2 on the 20th, 1 on the 23rd, 1 on the 25th, and 2 on the 29th of last month. Even in the early days of this month (1st to 4th), the number of new cases in Daejeon was only 1 to 2 per day at most, with no cases reported on the 1st.

However, immediately after the Chuseok holiday, between the 5th and 7th, 12 additional confirmed cases were reported, raising concerns that the Chuseok holiday might be a trigger for a resurgence of COVID-19 in the region. The daily confirmed cases during this period were 3 on the 5th, 2 on the 6th, and 7 on the 7th.

Notably, among the additional confirmed cases on the 7th were one researcher from the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) (Mr. A’s son-in-law) and two teenagers (Mr. A’s grandson and granddaughter), which has heightened alertness among health authorities.

In response to the researcher’s positive diagnosis, ETRI closed and disinfected the building where the researcher worked and arranged for about 450 employees working in the same building to work from home.

Additionally, at the school attended by Mr. A’s granddaughter, who is a middle school student, 27 classmates and 9 staff members have been prioritized for testing, which is currently underway. The school is reportedly planning to conduct remote classes for students in the same grade as the confirmed case.

With the increase in confirmed cases immediately after the Chuseok holiday and the heightened possibility of a regional resurgence, health authorities have become more active. Jeong Hae-gyo, Director of the City’s Health and Welfare Bureau, stated, “A cluster infection has occurred within the family, and an in-depth epidemiological investigation is currently underway. The city plans to implement multifaceted infectious disease prevention and control activities to prevent a resurgence of infectious diseases in the region after Chuseok.”

◆Following Chuseok, ‘Hangeul Day’... Refrain from meeting acquaintances, ban on rallies = The rise in confirmed cases immediately after the Chuseok holiday has made Hangeul Day a further concern for health authorities. The consecutive holidays increase interpersonal contact, raising the risk of infectious disease resurgence.

Accordingly, the city urges residents to refrain from meeting family and acquaintances for two weeks following the Chuseok holiday. It also appeals to the public to comply with mask-wearing, maintaining physical distance, avoiding crowded places, and minimizing movement routes.

Mayor Heo Tae-jeong of Daejeon emphasized, “The next two weeks are a very critical period to prevent the resurgence of COVID-19. We ask that people refrain from gatherings or meetings with acquaintances for the time being and immediately visit the nearest public health center’s screening clinic for COVID-19 testing if they experience symptoms such as fever or cough.”

The city has also issued an administrative order banning rallies and demonstrations at major rally and protest sites in the city from noon on the 6th to noon on the 11th to prevent the spread of COVID-19 cluster infections.

The locations subject to the ban include eight nearby plazas, roads, and sidewalks: Daejeon Station Plaza to the former Chungnam Provincial Office, Seodaejeon Intersection Park in Munhwa-dong, Jung-gu, Seodaejeon Station Plaza in Oryu-dong, Hanbat Sports Complex in Busa-dong, Expo Citizen’s Plaza in Mannyeon-dong, Seo-gu, Saemmeori Park in Dunsan-dong, Boramae Park in Tanbang-dong, and World Cup Stadium in Noeun-dong, Yuseong-gu.

The city explained that violating the administrative order and holding rallies or demonstrations at these locations may result in fines of up to 3 million KRW.

So far, the city has confirmed that no rally applications have been received for these locations.

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