Mass Infections Among Kindergarten, Elementary, and Middle School Students... 407 Cumulative Cases in Gyeongnam

Spokesperson Kim Myung-seop is conducting a briefing on COVID-19 response.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Ju Cheol-in] In Gyeongnam, 13 new cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) were confirmed overnight in a cluster.

Gyeongsangnam-do announced in a briefing on the 18th that 13 confirmed cases occurred, including 8 in Hadong and 5 in Changwon.

At a middle school in Hadong, student number 396 (teenage female) and teacher number 397 (female in her 50s) attended the school where 4 additional cases were confirmed, classified as numbers 406 to 409.

Three teachers at the academy attended by number 396 were infected and classified as numbers 403 to 405. One more student attending another middle school was added and classified as number 402. The infection route remains unclear.

In Changwon, 5 additional confirmed cases occurred, including elementary school students.

The younger sibling of elementary school student number 395 (teenage male), who was confirmed the previous day, was also infected and classified as number 398. A screening clinic has been set up at an elementary school-affiliated kindergarten in Jinhae-gu, Changwon, where number 398 attends, and testing is underway.

An elementary school student who had contact at the same academy as number 395 was also infected and classified as number 401. Testing is ongoing for 4 family members of number 401.

Numbers 399 (female in her 30s) and 400 (male in his 50s) work at the same workplace as number 394 (male in his 50s) from Gimhae, who was confirmed the previous day. The son of number 399 was also infected and classified as number 410. Contact testing is underway at the kindergarten attended by number 410 as well.

Kim Myung-seop, spokesperson for Gyeongnam Province, emphasized, “In Gyeongnam, cases with unidentified infection routes are increasing. To prevent further spread, cooperation from confirmed patients is crucial, and residents must strictly follow quarantine rules such as wearing masks.”

Accordingly, the cumulative number of confirmed cases in the province has risen to 407. Of these, 320 have been discharged and 87 are currently hospitalized.

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