[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases related to the Coupang Bucheon logistics center has increased to a total of eight. With thousands of employees working at the center, the possibility of additional infections has risen, prompting emergency measures from health authorities.
According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) on the 26th, as of the afternoon, five more people residing in Guro-gu, Seoul; Paju and Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi Province; and Incheon tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total confirmed cases linked to the Coupang logistics center to eight.
A(45, female), residing in Guro-gu, Seoul, tested positive in the morning after undergoing a specimen test at the district health center the previous day. She worked alongside Bucheon patient number 87 (female in her 30s), who had previously been confirmed positive and was employed at the Coupang Bucheon logistics center.
Also, B, a person in their 50s living in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, who is an employee at the same logistics center, tested positive after a specimen test conducted the previous day.
C (24, male) residing in Bupyeong-gu, Incheon; D (50, female) residing in Gyeyang-gu; and E (34, female) residing in Bucheon-si also tested positive for COVID-19 on the same day. Among them, D was infected after contact with Bucheon patient number 87. D’s spouse and two children are currently under self-quarantine and undergoing specimen testing.
The Coupang Bucheon logistics center was previously worked at on the 12th by Incheon patient number 142 (43, female) and Bucheon patient number 87. Incheon patient number 147 (38, male), residing in Bucheon, was also confirmed to have worked at the logistics center on the 20th and 23rd.
Among these, Incheon patient number 142, presumed to be a fourth-generation infection from an Incheon academy instructor cluster, attended a first birthday party at the Bucheon 'Raon Party' buffet restaurant on the 9th with an acquaintance’s family and was confirmed positive along with her teenage son on the 23rd.
Meanwhile, as confirmed cases continue to emerge at the Coupang Bucheon logistics center, Bucheon City plans to conduct COVID-19 testing on 3,626 people, including regular employees, daily workers, delivery company staff, and retirees associated with the center.
The city also decided to suspend operations at the logistics center until two weeks have passed since the last contact date of any additional confirmed cases and until company facility improvement measures, as advised by epidemiological investigators, are completed.
The KCDC plans to request cooperation from local governments so that logistics center workers residing not only in Bucheon but also in other areas of Gyeonggi Province, Seoul, and Incheon can receive testing at nearby locations.
In addition to existing screening clinics, Bucheon City will set up a screening clinic on the lawn next to the comprehensive stadium, where COVID-19 testing will be available from 3 p.m. on the same day.
Jang Deokcheon, mayor of Bucheon City, said, "According to epidemiological investigators, because the Coupang Bucheon logistics center handles fresh food in refrigerated facilities, workers may not have been able to properly monitor their physical condition," adding, "We will conduct rapid testing to prevent further infections."
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