Total 22 COVID-19 Cases in Incheon... 13 Additional Employees Infected at Seoul Insurance Company Call Center

Incheon Medical Center operating nationally designated inpatient treatment beds
Photo by Incheon City

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] In Incheon, the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has increased by as many as 13. This brings the total number of confirmed cases in the region to 22.

According to Incheon City on the 10th, 13 call center employees of a Seoul-based insurance company living in Incheon were collectively diagnosed with COVID-19.

The confirmed cases include 4 each from Michuhol-gu and Bupyeong-gu, 2 from Seo-gu, and 1 each from Namdong-gu, Yeonsu-gu, and Gyeyang-gu. All of them were identified as call center employees of Ace Insurance Company in Guro-gu, Seoul, who commuted to and from Incheon.

Health authorities believe that they had recent contact with a 56-year-old female colleague who was confirmed positive for COVID-19 on the 8th in Nowon-gu, Seoul.

Incheon City stated that among 19 Incheon residents (contacts) working at the call center who underwent specimen testing, 13 were confirmed positive while the remaining 6 tested negative. All 13 confirmed cases have been transferred to Incheon Medical Center and are receiving treatment in isolation.

The city is conducting epidemiological investigations, including confirming the movement paths of the confirmed cases within the region. In addition, disinfection work is being carried out focusing on places visited by additional confirmed cases, and if contacts are identified within Incheon, they will be instructed to self-isolate.

The Ace Insurance call center is located on the 11th floor of the Korea Building in Sindorim-dong, Guro-gu, Seoul. More than 20 confirmed cases have emerged from this call center alone.

Due to the nature of call centers where employees work in relatively close proximity without wearing masks, it is known that there were many infections.

After identifying on the 8th that the workplace of the confirmed case residing in Nowon-gu was this call center, Guro-gu ordered 207 people in total, including 148 call center employees and 59 trainees, to self-quarantine.

Furthermore, the entire Korea Building was disinfected the previous afternoon, and an order was issued to completely close all offices from the 1st to the 12th floor.