Unstoppable COVID-19, Indiscriminate Spread in Changwon, Gyeongnam... 12 New Cases, Total 482

Two students attending Jangcheon Elementary School in Jinhae-gu, Changwon City, tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the 20th. In response, health authorities have set up a screening clinic at Jangcheon Elementary School and are conducting tests by classifying contacts and individuals exposed to the movement paths. Photo by Joo Cheol-in lx906@

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Ju-cheol In] Cluster infections continue in Changwon city, where active consideration is being given to raising social distancing to level 2 due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

Gyeongnam Province announced on the 24th that 12 additional confirmed cases were reported, including 10 residents of Changwon and 2 residents of Jinju.

Among those confirmed positive were three women in their 50s (Gyeongnam 474, 475, 478), a woman in her 60s (476), a man in his 60s (477), and a teenage male (479), all residing in Changwon.

Cases 474, 476, and 477 are the operator and employees of 'Arari Noraebang' karaoke in Masanhwoe-gu, Changwon. After case 474 tested positive on the 22nd at a screening clinic in Changwon city due to symptoms such as body aches, close contacts 476 and 477 were tested and confirmed positive. The quarantine authorities are conducting an epidemiological investigation into the infection routes of these three individuals.

Case 475 is related to a social gathering in Changwon and is a family member of case 473, who was confirmed positive at a hiking meeting the previous day. Cases 473 and 475 work at the 'Dosieobu' restaurant in Seongsan-gu, Changwon.

Case 478 tested positive after voluntarily getting tested due to symptoms. Case 479 is a family member of case 384, confirmed on the 14th, and was confirmed positive during self-quarantine.

A man in his 50s (case 482), a woman in her 40s (case 483), and a woman in her 50s (case 484) were additionally confirmed positive that afternoon. They are the owner (case 483) and visitors of 'Sodap Pocha' in Changwon, which was visited by Gyeongnam case 469.

A man in his 20s (case 485) residing in Changwon tested positive after arriving from overseas and undergoing testing.

In Jinju, a man in his 30s (case 480) and a man in his 60s (case 481) were confirmed positive. Case 480 had been in contact with case 370, confirmed on the 10th, and had been self-quarantining; he tested positive during the test for quarantine release.

Case 481 tested positive after voluntarily getting tested due to symptoms. The infection route has not been identified.

Accordingly, the cumulative number of confirmed cases in the province has increased to 482 (362 discharged, 119 hospitalized, 1 deceased).

Kim Myung-seop, spokesperson for Gyeongnam Province, said, “Among the 151 confirmed cases in the province in November, infections through schools and academies, and through restaurants, bathhouses, and senior centers each account for 48 cases, making up 64% of the total.” He urged, “Please refrain from small gatherings such as dinners and avoid using multi-use facilities and entertainment venues.”

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