Pohang City Issues 'Administrative Order' for COVID-19 Testing of Over 200,000 People in Infection Hotspots

Mayor Lee Gang-deok: "If the spread does not slow, measures will be expanded to all citizens"

Briefing scene of Lee Gang-deok, Mayor of Pohang.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Dong-wook] Following outbreaks at bathhouses, the city of Pohang, which is suffering from a chain infection of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) linked to gatherings of people in their 60s, has issued an administrative order requiring all residents in the affected dong (neighborhood) areas to undergo diagnostic testing.

Mayor Lee Kang-deok emphasized in an emergency briefing on the 25th, "COVID-19 is spreading in the region related to the Sangju Yeolbang Center and bathhouses," adding, "This is an unavoidable measure to block the spread of infection."

He continued, "If the spread does not subside despite the administrative order, we are considering issuing an administrative order for specimen testing of all citizens. Those who violate the administrative order will be fined according to the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act."

Along with this, Pohang city has also ordered employees and regular users of general restaurants, snack bars, Jukdo Market, bathhouses, and hair and beauty service workers to undergo COVID-19 testing.

The testing will be conducted until the 31st, targeting about 200,000 people out of Pohang’s population of approximately 500,000.

Meanwhile, from the 5th to the 23rd, 24 people were infected in a chain at three bathhouses in Buk-gu and Nam-gu districts of Pohang. Additionally, after a gathering of fourteen women in their 60s at a home on the 16th, the first confirmed case was reported on the 21st, followed by eight more positive cases among attendees and their families on the 24th.

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