Gyeongnam Province Reports 97 New COVID-19 Cases... 80 at Jinju Bathhouse (Summary)

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Saeyan] As of 1:30 PM on the 12th, Gyeongsangnam-do reported a total of 97 confirmed cases: 85 in Jinju, 5 in Namhae, 3 in Changwon, and 1 each in Sacheon, Gimhae, Miryang, and Geoje.

Among the 85 confirmed cases in Jinju, 79 and 1 confirmed case in Changwon are related to the Jinju bathhouse cluster, classified as cases 2211~2250 and 2259~2304.

After the first confirmed case in Gyeongnam, case 2181, tested positive before overseas departure on the 9th, contact tracing revealed 8 additional confirmed cases among family and acquaintances.

Among the additional confirmed cases, 3 visited the 'Pharos Health Sauna' located in Jinju.

Notably, one of them visited the sauna for 6 consecutive days despite showing suspected COVID-19 symptoms.

The Jinju quarantine authorities conducted tests on a total of 328 people related to this cluster. The test results showed 92 positives, including the initial confirmed case, and 133 negatives. Tests are currently ongoing for 104 individuals.

Among those tested, 235 were contacts from the bathhouse, and 93 were infected through schools, academies, or family contacts.

The remaining 5 confirmed cases in Jinju and 1 in Sacheon are related to a family gathering in Jinju and Sacheon, classified as cases 2223~2247, 2251, and 2302.

This brings the total number of confirmed cases related to the Jinju-Sacheon family gathering to 14.

The 5 confirmed cases in Namhae all tested positive after contact with Gyeongnam case 2208 and are classified as cases 2252~2256.

Among the 2 confirmed cases in Changwon, one tested positive during quarantine after contact with a confirmed case in the province and is classified as case 2210.

The other tested positive after voluntarily getting tested due to symptoms and is classified as case 2258. The infection route is under investigation.

One confirmed case each in Gimhae and Geoje tested positive after contact with existing confirmed cases and are classified as cases 2209 and 2257, respectively.

One confirmed case in Miryang tested positive during a hospital admission test and is classified as case 2208. The infection route is under investigation.

Accordingly, the total cumulative confirmed cases in the province have risen to 2,301 (163 hospitalized, 2,126 discharged, 12 deceased).

Governor Kim Kyung-soo announced in a briefing that "Starting from midnight tonight, a two-week ban on gatherings will be enforced at 98 bathhouse establishments in Jinju."

Additionally, Jinju city has raised the current social distancing level from 1.5 to level 2 from midnight on the 13th until the 28th.

Meanwhile, Gyeongsangnam-do had already issued a two-week ban on gatherings at the said sauna from the 11th to the 23rd.

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