[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] The health authorities have revealed that the chain of transmission related to the COVID-19 cluster outbreak at the Coupang logistics center in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, is presumed to have started from an Incheon academy instructor who concealed their identity.
On the afternoon of the 30th, Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters for COVID-19, stated at a regular briefing, "Considering various circumstances, the most likely hypothesis is that the transmission chain originating from the Incheon academy instructor extended to the Coupang logistics center in Bucheon."
The Incheon academy instructor was confirmed positive after visiting the Itaewon clubs in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, earlier this month and was classified as the 102nd confirmed case in Incheon. During the initial epidemiological investigation, the instructor concealed their occupation, which delayed the process of identifying additional confirmed cases among contacts. Subsequently, a chain of transmission occurred among students, and a local taxi driver who worked part-time as a freelance photographer was infected during this process. This taxi driver then attended a first birthday party in Bucheon, where further transmission occurred among visiting family members and guests.
The 142nd confirmed case in Incheon, presumed to be the index patient at the Bucheon Coupang logistics center, was also infected after attending this birthday party. However, Deputy Head Kwon explained, "Since the epidemiological investigation is ongoing, we cannot completely rule out the possibility of simultaneous local transmissions or other transmission chains among logistics center workers in the affected areas."
He added, "This situation underscores the importance of promptly and truthfully cooperating with epidemiological investigations, undergoing testing at the slightest suspicion, maintaining visitor and worker logs, and strictly adhering to social distancing guidelines in daily life. We have realized these points deeply. Regarding the cluster outbreak of COVID-19 in the metropolitan area, we are determined that the costly lessons we are paying now must never be in vain."
Meanwhile, as of 11 a.m. on the same day, the cumulative number of confirmed cases related to the Bucheon Coupang logistics center reached 108, an increase of six from 102 at noon the previous day. Among them, 73 are logistics center workers, and 35 are contacts such as family and acquaintances. By region, 47 cases are in Gyeonggi, 42 in Incheon, and 19 in Seoul, all within the metropolitan area. According to the health authorities, approximately 4,300 tests have been conducted related to this cluster, with a positive rate of 2.5 to 2.9% so far.
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