Geochang-gun to Conduct COVID-19 Mass Testing for Bathhouse Workers... Proactive Response to Prevent Cluster Infections

Conducted for 2 Days on the 22nd and 23rd Amid Spread of Infection at Nearby Bathhouse

Comprehensive COVID-19 testing is being conducted for bathhouse workers within Geochang-gun.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] Geochang-gun, Gyeongnam Province, announced that it will conduct proactive COVID-19 mass testing for all bathhouse workers in the area over two days, from the 22nd to the 23rd, following the continuous occurrence of COVID-19 cases linked to nearby bathhouses.

The main causes of the cluster infections in bathhouses in other local governments were identified as the characteristics of bathhouses where local residents register as regular members, frequently visit, and stay for long periods; generally poor ventilation; difficulty in wearing masks; and the use of shared items, eating, and conversations being major risk factors for infection.

There were also many cases where infections spread because individuals with symptoms such as colds and body aches still used the bathhouses.

Accordingly, the county decided to conduct a ‘COVID-19 intensive testing’ for all bathhouse workers in the area to detect and prevent cluster infections related to bathhouses at an early stage.

The testing site is the Geochang-gun Public Health Center screening clinic, and the intensive testing hours are from 9 a.m. to noon.

Visitors should bring their ID when getting tested, and those who cannot be tested during this intensive testing period will be informed of a separate testing schedule later.

Gu In-mo, the mayor of Geochang-gun, said, “This test is being conducted to prevent cluster infections related to bathhouses at an early stage and to alleviate the anxiety of residents amid the ongoing COVID-19 cases linked to bathhouses,” adding, “We ask all bathhouse workers to actively cooperate with this proactive testing and comply with the strengthened bathhouse quarantine guidelines.”

Meanwhile, Geochang-gun is conducting COVID-19 mass testing for all workers in entertainment establishments within the area until March 31, in relation to cluster outbreaks linked to nearby entertainment venues.

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