'Bathhouse-Origin Chain Infection' in Pohang City, This Time 60s Gathering 'Fear'... 8 New Confirmed Cases

14 People in Their 60s Infected After Home Gathering on 21st
8 More Cases Confirmed Among Attendees and Families
Cumulative Confirmed Cases in Gyeongbuk Reach 2,832 as of Midnight on 25th

On the morning of January 25, COVID-19 confirmed patients boarded vehicles to move to the Asan Residential Treatment Center in Chungnam from IEM International School in Daeheung-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon. At the unauthorized religious education facility IEM International School, 127 confirmed cases were reported the previous day.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Dong-wook] In Pohang, which has been shrinking due to a chain infection of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) originating from bathhouses, a new cluster infection has occurred from a '60s acquaintance gathering.'

According to Gyeongbuk Province and Pohang City on the 25th, 14 women in their 60s in Buk-gu, Pohang, held a gathering at home on the 16th, and one person was confirmed positive on the 21st.

During the follow-up investigation by quarantine authorities, 8 more participants and their family members tested positive on the 24th. Pohang City plans to impose a fine of 100,000 won each on these 14 people who violated the 'ban on gatherings of five or more' under the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act.

In Pohang, a total of 13 people, including these 8, tested positive for COVID-19 in one day on the 24th.

Among the new confirmed cases, 2 tested positive during a full inspection of merchants at Jukdo Market, and the remaining 3 were contacts of previously confirmed cases.

No new bathhouse-related confirmed cases, which had been occurring sequentially in Nam-gu and Buk-gu of Pohang, were reported on the 24th. Since the 5th until the 23rd, a total of 24 confirmed cases were identified at three bathhouses in Nam-gu and Buk-gu.

In this regard, the Pohang Branch of the Korea Bathhouse Association announced on the 24th that it will voluntarily suspend operations of 105 hot springs and bathhouses, including 30 that have closed or ceased operations until the end of this month.

Meanwhile, in Gyeongbuk Province on the 24th, including 13 in Pohang, one case each was confirmed in Gumi (overseas imported case) and Chilgok (contact of a Daegu confirmed case), bringing the cumulative number of confirmed cases in Gyeongbuk to 2,832 (including 29 overseas imported cases) as of midnight on the 25th.

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