Yeosu-si Reports 2 Additional COVID-19 Cases... 5 Confirmed Over the Weekend

Yeosu-si's Passive Response to COVID-19... Growing Concerns Over Spread Amid Criticism

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] In Yeosu, Jeollanam-do, the city’s quarantine efforts have been put on high alert as five new COVID-19 cases have been confirmed since last weekend.

On the 7th, Yeosu City announced that a woman in her 50s and an elementary school student tested positive for COVID-19, classified as Yeosu cases 31 and 32, respectively, and that health authorities are currently conducting epidemiological investigations.

The woman in her 50s, Yeosu case 31, is the spouse of Yeosu case 30.

Yeosu case 30 had been working in Seoul and recently visited their hometown in Yeosu. After showing COVID-19 symptoms, they were tested and confirmed positive.

The elementary school student, Yeosu case 32, is believed to have been infected during activities outside the region and recently went on a field trip to Incheon.

Regarding the movement path of case 32, Yeosu City sent an emergency text message asking visitors who were at Style 21 (Mangma-ro 33) from 3:09 PM to 3:20 PM on the 5th to visit a screening clinic.

The person confirmed positive on the 5th and classified as Yeosu case 28, a person in their 30s, was a contact of Seoul Jungnang-gu case 362. Their movement path included Yeo Jin Restaurant (located in Hak-dong) and Momo PC Zone (Ungcheon-dong). Health authorities have completed disinfection at their residence and other locations.

The person confirmed positive on the 6th and classified as Yeosu case 29, a person in their 20s, was an employee at an oyster grill restaurant visited by Seoul Jungnang-gu case 362 and tested positive for COVID-19.

It was confirmed that Yeosu case 29 visited a fitness club in Soho-dong around 2 PM from the 3rd to the 5th, raising local concerns about a possible increase in COVID-19 cases linked to fitness clubs in Yeosu.

Yeosu case 30, confirmed positive on the 6th, is currently hospitalized at Suncheon Medical Center. Since the exact infection route is unknown, health authorities remain on high alert.

There have been ongoing criticisms that Yeosu City has been negligent in its COVID-19 response.

For example, Yeosu’s Nangman Pocha has been criticized for not properly following COVID-19 quarantine rules. It is also pointed out that the movements of tourists who flock there on weekends and later test positive for COVID-19 have not been properly investigated or confirmed.

In fact, when comparing the COVID-19 testing rate relative to the population, Yeosu City’s rate is 7.2% (20,555 people), which is significantly lower than nearby Suncheon City’s 16% (45,682 people) and Gwangyang City’s 10.6% (15,983 people), leading to ongoing criticism that Yeosu is conducting COVID-19 testing too passively.

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