Public Officials in Gyeongsan-si, Gyeongbuk Test Positive for COVID-19... City Council Chair and Others Quarantined in Large Numbers

Gyeongsan city officials are conducting a life-sharing and love blood donation campaign to overcome the red alert on blood supply caused by the novel coronavirus infection. (Photo by Gyeongsan City)

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Ju Cheol-in] A Grade 7 public official working at Hayang-eup Office in Gyeongsan-si, Gyeongbuk, tested positive for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), leading to the mass self-quarantine of city officials including the Gyeongsan City Council Chairman and the Deputy Mayor of Gyeongsan who had contact with the employee.

According to Gyeongsan City on the 20th, A (49, Nam-gu, Daegu), a Grade 7 public official at Hayang-eup Office in Gyeongsan, showed symptoms such as fever and body aches starting from the 17th, and on the 19th at around 1:20 PM, visited the Gyeongsan City Health Center screening clinic, where he was tested and confirmed positive for COVID-19.

A was placed under self-quarantine along with his wife and two sons, and will be transferred to a hospital once the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency officially notifies him as a confirmed case.

During the city’s investigation, it was revealed that A, who is the vice president of the Gyeongsan Sports Council, spent the 18th with three football officials from Yantai City, China, who visited Gyeongsan to discuss a youth soccer tournament.

The city ordered Chairman Kang Su-myeong of the City Council, Deputy Mayor Lee Jang-sik, Director Kang Young-su of the Sports Promotion Division, two team leaders, Secretary-General Lee Sang-dal, and Deputy Secretary-General of the Sports Council, all of whom had contact with A, to begin self-quarantine from the 20th. Additionally, the second-floor industrial office at Hayang-eup Office where A worked was closed on the same day.