Two Female Employees at Large Gangnam Entertainment Venue Confirmed Positive... Contact Tracing Underway (Update)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Two women living in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, who came into contact with a man in his 30s infected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), have been consecutively confirmed positive for COVID-19. These women appear to have worked as female employees at a large entertainment establishment in Gangnam, frequented by hundreds of customers, prompting health authorities to identify their contacts.

According to Seoul City, Seocho-gu, and Gangnam-gu on the 7th, a 37-year-old man living in Yangjae 1-dong returned from Japan on the 24th of last month, began showing COVID-19 symptoms from the 27th, and underwent specimen testing at Seocho-gu Public Health Center on the 31st. He tested positive for COVID-19 on April 1 and was registered as patient number 27 in Seocho-gu.

Before testing positive, on the 26th, this man came into contact with a 36-year-old woman residing in Gangnam-gu.

The woman, who identified her occupation as a "freelancer," felt symptoms on the 29th of last month and self-isolated while monitoring her condition. On the afternoon of April 1, she visited Gangnam-gu Public Health Center for testing and received a positive result on the morning of the 2nd, becoming patient number 44 in Gangnam-gu.

She reportedly told health authorities that her relationship with Seocho-gu patient number 27 was that of an "acquaintance." Authorities also confirmed that Gangnam-gu patient number 44 worked at a well-known large entertainment establishment in Gangnam from the evening of the 27th until the following morning, and are focusing on identifying contacts centered around this venue.

Another woman, who was the roommate of Gangnam-gu patient number 44, also tested positive while self-isolating after patient number 44 was confirmed positive.

She tested negative on the 2nd but was retested on the 5th, receiving a positive result on the 6th, becoming patient number 51 in Gangnam-gu. It has not yet been disclosed whether this patient had contact with Seocho-gu patient number 27.

Currently, Seoul City data indicates that Gangnam-gu patient number 51 was infected through contact with Seocho-gu patient number 27; however, Gangnam-gu officials believe that patient number 51 was infected not through direct contact with patient number 27 but by living as a roommate with Gangnam-gu patient number 44.

Health authorities are also investigating the movements and contacts of Gangnam-gu patient number 51, including her workplace.