The private academy in Michuhol-gu, Incheon, where a tutor diagnosed with COVID-19 worked. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases related to an Incheon academy instructor who contracted the novel coronavirus after visiting a club in Itaewon, Seoul, has increased by five.
On the 19th, Incheon City announced that five people tested positive for COVID-19: A (17), a resident of Michuhol-gu, and his mother; a Chinese-national couple, B (63) residing in Yeonsu-gu; and a 4-year-old child living in Yongin.
A visited a karaoke room inside Vision Plaza in Yonghyeon-dong, Michuhol-gu, on the 6th, and his mother was confirmed positive after contact with him. This karaoke room was also visited by two high school students infected by C (25), an academy instructor and the 102nd confirmed case in Incheon.
Incheon City sent safety advisory messages stating that those who visited the karaoke room from 3 p.m. on the 6th to midnight on the 7th should get tested at health centers.
After seeing this advisory message, A and his mother went to a health center for testing and were confirmed positive. A’s father, who accompanied him to the karaoke room, is currently awaiting test results.
At Michuhol-gu Health Center, hundreds of people who claimed to have visited the karaoke room on the 6th requested testing, increasing the possibility of more confirmed cases.
Additionally, the Chinese-national couple tested positive after using the taxi that C had taken. Furthermore, D (66), the taxi driver, and his 4-year-old grandson in Yongin were confirmed positive on the same day.
D gave a ride to academy instructor C on the 4th and continued operating until the 17th, when he was diagnosed positive. His wife (67) was also infected. Therefore, among the hundreds of passengers who took D’s taxi between the 4th and 17th, additional confirmed cases may emerge.
Incheon City has secured the list of 143 passengers who used the taxi during this period and paid by card, and is conducting specimen tests.
Based on the taxi taximeter (operation recording device) data, the taxi’s movement route is being confirmed, and notifications will be sent via safety messages so that passengers who paid in cash can also voluntarily get tested.
As of today, the total number of confirmed cases related to academy instructor C has risen to 22, including 11 students and 10 adults. C, who was confirmed positive on the 9th, concealed his occupation and gave false statements about his movements during the initial epidemiological investigation, and was reported to Incheon City for violating the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act.
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