Bangdaebon "Dongducheon Foreigners Total 132 Confirmed Cases... Must Strictly Follow Quarantine Rules"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] The Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) announced that as of midnight on the 6th, a total of 132 foreign nationals tested positive for COVID-19 at the temporary screening clinic in Dongducheon-si, Gyeonggi Province, where a cluster of cases recently emerged.

Dongducheon-si has set up temporary screening clinics in areas with a high concentration of foreign nationals, such as industrial complexes with a large proportion of foreign workers and subway stations, conducting anonymous testing.

The CDCH stated, "Foreign nationals who tested positive are receiving isolation treatment, and additional testing is being conducted for their family members and cohabitants in the same facilities." They added, "In particular, we are verifying the workplaces and schools of foreign nationals who tested positive to conduct mass testing and epidemiological investigations."

Temporary screening clinics targeting foreigners are currently operating in 22 locations across four cities and provinces: Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon, and Chungnam. So far, a total of 8,744 people have been tested, with 189 confirmed positive cases as of 6 p.m. on the 5th.

Lee Sang-won, head of the CDCH Epidemiological Investigation and Analysis Team, emphasized at the regular briefing, "COVID-19 is an infectious disease that can affect anyone regardless of nationality or occupation," and stressed, "Foreign nationals who test positive or certain groups in specific regions should not be socially blamed or stigmatized solely based on infection."

He also urged, "Foreign workers should strictly adhere to quarantine guidelines to end the epidemic, and employers should actively manage health to ensure workers can work in safe environments."

Positive cases were also found through proactive testing targeting vulnerable facilities such as nursing hospitals and care facilities, as well as military and correctional facilities. In February alone, nationwide testing was conducted on 63,215 nursing hospitals and care facilities, covering 1,864,530 individuals, resulting in 41 positive cases across 34 locations.

Specifically, 13 cases were confirmed in 12 nursing hospitals, 2 cases in 2 psychiatric hospitals, 25 cases in 19 care facilities, and 1 case in a facility for disabled residents.

Among 290,622 conscripts tested proactively, 16 tested positive, and among 131,174 inmates and staff in correctional facilities, 21 were confirmed positive.

In six cities and provinces?Busan, Daegu, Chungbuk, Chungnam, Gyeongbuk, and Gangwon?108 positive cases were detected early through proactive testing conducted independently for local residents.

Additionally, proactive testing is being conducted for approximately 62,000 high school dormitory residents and about 8,000 police personnel mobilized for assemblies.

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