Over 80 Foreigners Confirmed COVID-19 Positive in Dongducheon... "Epidemiological Investigation Team Dispatched, Variant Testing Underway"

"Found in Preemptive Testing Related to Group Infection of Foreign Workers in Namyangju"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] As more than 80 foreign nationals tested positive in Dongducheon, Gyeonggi Province, health authorities dispatched a central epidemiological investigation team to respond.

Lee Sang-won, head of the Epidemiological Investigation and Analysis Division at the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH), stated during the regular COVID-19 briefing on the 2nd, "Approximately 80 positive cases were identified through a proactive anonymous testing of foreigners at a temporary screening clinic in Dongducheon today," adding, "The central epidemiological investigation team has been dispatched and is currently conducting investigations and response measures."

According to Dongducheon City, a total of 88 new confirmed cases were identified over two days, with 84 being foreigners and 4 being Korean nationals. In response, the city’s health authorities temporarily suspended attendance of foreign children at daycare centers and postponed the attendance and school openings for kindergartens, elementary, middle, and high schools in the area until the 3rd.

Lee explained, "Following the previous cluster infection among foreign workers in Namyangju City, anonymous and proactive testing for foreign workers has been strengthened," and added, "This recent detection is understood to be part of the proactive anonymous testing efforts." He also mentioned, "Of course, testing for variant viruses will also begin soon."

Regarding how many workplaces the confirmed foreign nationals were identified in, he said, "Since anonymous testing is being conducted, we need to convert anonymity back to real names and complete statements and investigations for these individuals. This is something we can only know after the investigation is complete," and assured, "We will provide detailed information as soon as the results are available."

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