Busan Surpasses 100 Cases in 3 Months Amid COVID-19 Cluster Infections in Schools and Hospitals

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Sang-hyun] The number of new COVID-19 cases in Busan recorded triple digits for the first time in three months since August 19, when there were 105 cases.

According to Busan City on the 17th, 103 people tested positive, increasing the cumulative number of confirmed cases to 14,974.

Among the new cases, 77 were contacts of existing confirmed cases, and 26 had unknown sources of infection.

Cluster infections occurred at a general hospital in Haeundae-gu, a middle school in Buk-gu, and an elementary school in Saha-gu.

At a general hospital A in Haeundae-gu, one staff member tested positive with symptoms on the 15th, and after investigating 790 contacts within the hospital, six additional staff members tested positive on the 16th. All of them were found to be employees working on the same floor.

One acquaintance contact of the confirmed case at hospital A also tested positive, bringing the total cumulative confirmed cases at the hospital to eight.

At middle school B in Buk-gu, four people including one student and three family contacts tested positive on the 15th, and three more students tested positive on the 16th. Additionally, four contacts of the confirmed students also tested positive, bringing the total cumulative confirmed cases related to the school to 11 (four students and seven contacts).

At elementary school C in Saha-gu, one staff member tested positive with symptoms on the 15th, and on the 16th, three students and one family contact tested positive.

During periodic testing at medical institution D in Yeonje-gu, which is under the same group quarantine, one staff member and 11 patients tested positive, increasing the total cumulative confirmed cases at the institution to 79 (four staff members and 75 patients). Among them, 64 are identified as breakthrough infections.

Currently, 734 people are receiving treatment in Busan, of whom 17 are in severe or critical condition.

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