Over 200 Contacts at Workplace After COVID-19 Case Confirmed at Large Bucheon Logistics Center

A logistics center in Bucheon where a confirmed case of the novel coronavirus worked. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Min Jun-young] A woman in her 30s residing in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, who contracted the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) through an unknown route, was found to have come into contact with about 200 people at a large logistics center where she works.

According to Bucheon City on the 25th, the 30-year-old Ms. A, the 87th confirmed case in the region, was confirmed to have come into contact with about 200 people while working at a large distribution company's logistics center in Ojeong-dong for three days from the 18th to the 20th of this month.

As a result of the epidemiological investigation, Ms. A worked at the logistics center from 12:00 a.m. to 3:20 a.m. on the 18th and then took a shuttle bus home.

On the 19th, Ms. A also went to work at the logistics center around 4:10 p.m. and worked until 2:00 a.m. on the 20th, then took a shuttle bus home around 3:00 a.m.

On that day, Ms. A visited Daesan-dong Administrative Welfare Center, a bank, a pharmacy, and a mart, then worked at the logistics center from 4:05 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Ms. A did not go to work from the 21st to the 23rd, when she experienced muscle pain and nasal congestion symptoms, but was found to have visited a hospital, pharmacy, mart, and convenience store while wearing a mask. There was one contact during those three days.

According to Bucheon City, Ms. A wore a mask both while working and moving around.

The quarantine authorities are conducting additional epidemiological investigations, considering that there are about 1,300 short-term workers at the logistics center where Ms. A works, and it is possible she came into contact with more workers.

The logistics center immediately suspended operations and decided to conduct COVID-19 tests on all employees, including part-time workers.

Earlier, Ms. A, whose infection route was unknown, showed symptoms on the 20th, underwent specimen testing at the Bucheon City Health Center screening clinic on the 23rd, and was confirmed positive on the 24th.

Bucheon City transferred Ms. A to Suwon Medical Center and carried out disinfection measures at her home and surrounding areas.