'Call Center Cluster Infection' Leads to Social Distancing Raised to Level 1.5 in Cheonan and Other Areas

20 Shinhan Life Insurance and Shinhan Card Call Center Employees Confirmed Positive in Cheonan Sinbudong
Employees, Families, and Acquaintances Under Epidemiological Investigation... Concerns Over Additional Cases
Cheonan and Asan Regions Raise Social Distancing Levels and Strengthen Quarantine Measures... First Nationwide Upgrade

Medical staff at the public health center's screening clinic are assisting citizens in filling out the questionnaire for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Source=Yonhap News

[Asia Economy (Cheonan) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The social distancing level in the Chungnam Cheonan and Asan areas will be raised to level 1.5. This is the first time these areas have increased the level again after the nationwide social distancing was lowered to level 1.

According to Chungnam Province and the cities of Cheonan and Asan on the 5th, from 6 p.m. that day, the social distancing in Cheonan and Asan will be raised from the current level 1 to level 1.5.

The increase in social distancing is largely due to the consecutive infections of 20 call center employees (19 in Cheonan and 1 in Asan) with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the region.

In Cheonan, one employee (female in her 40s) at the Shinhan Life Insurance and Shinhan Card call center located in Sinbu-dong was confirmed positive on the 4th, followed by 19 additional confirmed cases on the 5th. A large number of employees at the same call center were confirmed positive within two days.

Health authorities estimate that the collective infection in the call center was caused by employees working in a densely packed office space where, due to the nature of their work, masks were not worn.

In particular, it has been identified that about 80 employees worked at the call center where the cluster infection occurred, causing concern among health authorities. Most employees are women in their 30s to 50s, and epidemiological investigations are underway focusing on the call center employees themselves, their acquaintances, and families.

The problem lies in the high possibility of additional confirmed cases among call center employees and local transmission mediated by them. The raising of social distancing to level 1.5 in the Cheonan and Asan areas aligns with this concern.

Once social distancing level 1.5 begins, restrictions such as limits on the number of people and distancing between seats will be strengthened at 14 types of ‘general management facilities’ including PC rooms in the region.

Also, gatherings such as assemblies, protests, large-scale concerts, festivals, and academic events will only be allowed if fewer than 100 people gather, and professional sports games will be allowed to admit only up to 30% of the total seating capacity.

Park Sang-don, mayor of Cheonan, said, “I am sorry to report the spread of COVID-19 in the region,” and added, “The city will strengthen quarantine measures at public facilities used by many people and do its best to prevent the spread of infectious diseases in the region by raising social distancing to level 1.5.”

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