127 New COVID-19 Cases in Gyeongnam... Infections Surge in Entertainment Bars, Nursing Hospitals, and Large Marts (Comprehensive Report 2)

Public officials from Changwon City Hall and police officers in Gyeongnam are conducting a crackdown on entertainment establishments operating illegally.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Jucheol In] As of 5 p.m. on the 6th, Gyeongsangnam-do announced that 127 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported.

By region, there are 62 cases in Gimhae, 32 in Changwon, 7 each in Yangsan and Haman, 5 in Tongyeong, 3 each in Sacheon and Geoje, 2 each in Miryang and Namhae, and 1 each in Jinju, Goseong, Hamyang, and Hapcheon.

Except for one foreigner who entered from Uzbekistan among the Tongyeong confirmed cases, all are local infections. Among the Gimhae confirmed cases, 13 are related to a local nursing hospital. Of these, 12 are patients and 1 is a staff member.

On the 5th, after one hospitalized patient showed COVID-19 symptoms and tested positive on a rapid antigen test, Gimhae city quarantine authorities tested 71 inpatients and 98 staff members in the ward where the confirmed cases occurred, confirming a cluster infection. The quarantine authorities have temporarily closed this hospital and are conducting an in-depth epidemiological investigation.

Another Gimhae confirmed case is related to Gimhae Entertainment Bar II, testing positive during quarantine. The cumulative confirmed cases related to Gimhae Entertainment Bar II have reached 243.

Six confirmed cases in Gimhae, four in Changwon, and two in Haman are related to a cluster infection at a large supermarket in Changwon. Among them, 8 are customers, 1 is an employee, and 3 are contacts. This brings the cumulative confirmed cases related to the large supermarket to 28.

The quarantine authorities stated that 10,900 people have been tested in relation to the large supermarket, with 28 testing positive. They urged residents who visited the first-floor supermarket of the Namchangwon Nonghyup Agricultural and Marine Products Distribution Center between the 26th of last month and the 4th of this month to get tested promptly.

Another confirmed case in Changwon is a foreigner of Pakistani nationality related to a local manufacturing company. The cumulative confirmed cases related to the Changwon manufacturing company are 30.

Among all confirmed cases, 62 were infected through contact with existing confirmed cases in the province such as family, acquaintances, and coworkers. Three confirmed cases in Gimhae, two in Changwon, three in Yangsan, one in Geoje, and two in Namhae tested positive after contact with confirmed cases from Busan or the metropolitan area. The infection routes of the remaining 26 cases are under investigation.

Accordingly, the total cumulative confirmed cases in the province have increased to 7,796 (1,084 hospitalized, 6,692 discharged, 20 deceased).

Meanwhile, as the government decided to extend social distancing at level 3 in non-metropolitan areas from the 9th to the 22nd to curb the spread of COVID-19, the entire Gyeongnam region will also extend level 3 measures.

In the four areas of Changwon, Gimhae, Haman, and Hamyang where level 4 is currently applied, level 4 will be maintained. For Gimhae, Haman, and Hamyang, where level 4 ends on the 8th, the decision on extension will be made later considering the quarantine situation.

Kwon Yang-geun, Director of the Welfare and Health Bureau, said, "A lot of movement by residents is expected over the weekend," and repeatedly urged, "During this vacation season, please wisely stay at home rather than traveling long distances or meeting with family and acquaintances."

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