The 15th Confirmed Patient's Wife Tests 'Negative' in First Test... Department Store Workplace Expected to Return to Normal

Gyeonggi-do Health and Environment Research Institute 1st Screening Results
All 7 Family and Relatives Test Negative
Department Store Where Spouse Worked Expected to Normalize
AK Group "Discussing Additional Closure"

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] The spouse of the 15th confirmed case of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) residing in Suwon City tested 'negative' in the first infection test. As a result, the AK Plaza Suwon branch, where the spouse previously worked, is expected to resume normal operations.

According to Suwon City Hall and the distribution industry on the 3rd, all seven family members and relatives who were in close contact with the 15th confirmed patient tested 'negative' in the first specimen test conducted by the Gyeonggi-do Institute of Health and Environment on the morning of the same day. Among them was the confirmed patient's spouse, who is a subcontracted employee at AK Plaza Suwon.

Earlier, AK Plaza Suwon confirmed that the spouse of the 15th confirmed patient was a subcontracted employee working at the 'Find Kapoor' bag and accessories brand on the 2nd floor of AK Plaza Suwon, and decided to temporarily close the store on the 3rd. In addition, a second disinfection was carried out on the same day following the first disinfection on the 29th of last month.

The fact that the confirmed patient's wife worked there was revealed through the company's own investigation. AK Plaza identified the spouse of the 15th confirmed patient, who was under active monitoring at the time, as a subcontracted employee working at the store after checking whether employees, store workers, their families, and cohabitants had visited China or other affected regions. The subcontracted employee was given a day off and placed under self-quarantine starting from the day of confirmation (January 27).

However, the reopening date of the department store remains undecided. AK Group stated on the same day, "Discussions are ongoing regarding whether to extend the temporary closure."

Suwon City Hall also shared this news through social networking services (SNS). Suwon City Hall said, "It is fortunate that the infection has not spread within our local community. We hope to see these individuals healthy again after two weeks of self-quarantine," and added, "We also look forward to the prompt resumption of normal operations at AK Plaza Suwon."