266 COVID-19 Cases in Seoul Area... 3 More Linked to Guro Call Center

by Jo Inkyung

Published 16 Mar.2020 18:47(KST)

The closure of the Korea Building in Sindorim-dong, Guro-gu, Seoul, where the largest cluster infection of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the metropolitan area occurred, was partially lifted at midnight on the 16th for some areas (offices and commercial spaces on floors 1 to 6). Guro-gu, Seoul, lifted the closure order for the Korea Building at midnight on the 16th. The closure order for the call center floors, 7 to 12, will be maintained until the 22nd, and the decision to lift the order will be made later depending on the situation. The photo shows the entrance of the building with the second closure order posted on that day. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] As of 6 p.m. on the 16th, the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in the Seoul area reached 266.

Seoul City had counted 254 cases as of 10 a.m. that day, and the number increased by 12 again.

Among them, the number of confirmed cases related to the Guro-gu call center was 82, up by 3 from 79 in the morning. It is identified that 55 are call center employees, and 27 are their family members and contacts.

Also, considering that as of the morning of that day, there were 32 confirmed cases in Gyeonggi-do and 18 confirmed cases in Incheon related to the Guro call center, the total number of confirmed cases related to the call center in the Seoul metropolitan area appears to have increased from 129 to 132.