"Total of 6 Infection Cases from Chuseok Holiday Family Gatherings... Subsequent n-th Transmission Continues"

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgina Jo] A total of six cases of COVID-19 infections have been identified as spreading through family gatherings during the Chuseok holiday period. As the impact of holiday-related infections is being confirmed one by one and risk factors continue with holidays such as Hangul Day, there are calls for heightened vigilance.

On the 9th, Kwak Jin, head of the Patient Management Team at the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH), stated at a briefing held at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency in Osong, Chungbuk, "According to information confirmed from local governments and epidemiological investigations, there have been six cases of infections through family meetings during the Chuseok holiday."

Among the six cases, two were individuals who were confirmed positive separately during their return trips. These cases resulted in only one confirmed patient each, with no further transmission.

However, the remaining four cases involved additional transmission. In one case, a resident of Gyeonggi-do traveled to Gyeongnam to meet family, after which the mother was infected, resulting in two confirmed cases. In Jeongeup-si, Jeonbuk, a total of eight people, including a family, were infected following a family gathering during the holiday.

Additionally, in a family gathering in Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, six people were confirmed positive after the first patient was identified on the 6th. The CDCH has confirmed that these gatherings also took place during the holiday period.

Furthermore, a cluster infection case classified as a "family meal and acquaintance gathering" in Daejeon also involved transmission through family meetings. Regarding this, Team Leader Kwak explained, "As of this afternoon, a total of 18 people have been infected, and the transmissions related to family gatherings can be divided into two main groups: one family with three confirmed cases and another family with eight, making a total of 11 confirmed cases related to holiday family gatherings."

The health authorities warned that the effects of large-scale movement during the holidays are emerging one by one and urged caution.

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the CDCH, mentioned confirmed cases spreading through activities such as grave cleaning and meal gatherings, saying, "Sporadic cluster infections from family or acquaintance gatherings during the Chuseok holiday period are being reported in various places," and urged, "Please be more vigilant in following prevention guidelines such as wearing masks, washing hands, and maintaining a 2-meter distance."

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