Jeonnam Province, Ongoing COVID-19 Community Transmission... Full Efforts to Prevent a Major Outbreak

[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam Province is making every effort to block the large-scale outbreak as COVID-19 community infections continue.

According to Jeonnam Province on the 9th, from the previous day to this day, 11 community infections and 2 imported cases were newly confirmed in the Suncheon area, increasing the total cumulative confirmed cases in Jeonnam to 956.

Jeonnam case number 946 recently visited a local clinic twice, on March and April 2. Jeonnam case number 947, a commercial taxi driver, tested positive after showing symptoms.

Spouse case number 948 and residents of the same village were diagnosed as contacts, with cases 957 and 958 additionally confirmed positive.

Jeonnam case number 949 is a resident of Suncheon working at the Yeosu industrial complex. They tested positive during a pre-work inspection. Jeonnam case number 950 showed symptoms such as cough and muscle pain since the 6th and was confirmed positive after testing.

Cases 951 to 954 were confirmed positive during a village-wide survey related to Gwangju case number 2229, who tested positive during a pre-admission test at a university hospital in Gwangju.

Cases 955 and 956 are international students who arrived from Uzbekistan on the 26th of last month and tested positive during a pre-release quarantine test.

As cases with unclear infection routes continue to emerge in Suncheon, the province has judged the risk of a fourth large-scale outbreak to be very high and recently launched extensive diagnostic testing targeting residents who visited other regions or had contact with children living in other regions.

Additionally, since a taxi driver in operation tested positive, to identify contacts and prevent further spread, mobile specimen collection is being conducted by visiting taxi associations and bus garages targeting public transportation workers. The installation of temporary screening clinics is also being considered in areas with high foot traffic.

Due to the recent surge in confirmed cases, the Eastern Branch of the Health and Environment Research Institute, which has seen a significant increase in diagnostic tests, is now exclusively testing specimens related to Suncheon City, while specimens from seven other eastern regional health centers are being referred to the main Health and Environment Research Institute to focus on diagnostic testing in high-risk areas.

Kang Young-gu, Director of Health and Welfare at Jeonnam Province, said, “As unclear confirmed cases continue to appear in Suncheon, the risk of infection in daily life has increased. We ask residents to refrain from gatherings and personal activities, always wear masks, and promptly get tested at health center screening clinics if symptoms are suspected.”

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