COVID-19 Cases Continue Linked to Table Tennis Venue in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul

A student family from Yangjeong High School in Mokdong, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, was confirmed positive for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), causing an alert in the Mokdong academy district. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education on the 31st, A, a second-year student at Yangjeong High School, had a university student sister who was confirmed positive for COVID-19 the day before and was transferred to an isolation treatment hospital. Although A tested negative, concerns continue. The photo shows the academy district in Mokdong, Seoul, on the 2nd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] Several patients suspected of being infected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) were reported after visiting a table tennis center in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. The district office urged those who visited the table tennis center between the end of last month and early this month to get tested.

According to Yangcheon-gu on the 5th, one additional confirmed case was reported on the day following a previously confirmed patient suspected of being infected at a local table tennis center. The patient confirmed the day before is a man in his 50s living in Sinwol 4-dong, who stayed at Yangcheon Table Tennis Center for 5 hours on the 31st of last month and spent about 2 hours at Yangcheon Table Tennis Club on the 1st of this month.

He developed symptoms on the 2nd, got tested the next day, and was confirmed positive, then transferred to a Seoul residential treatment center. It was identified that he had visited three table tennis centers in the district (Yangcheon Table Tennis Club, Smile Table Tennis Center, Mokdong Table Tennis Club) between the 28th of last month and the 2nd of this month.

The newly confirmed patient on this day, a man in his 70s residing in Sinwol 7-dong, visited Yangcheon Table Tennis Club for three days starting from the 1st. Although asymptomatic, he underwent testing on the 4th. Additionally, as a result of testing people who played table tennis with the previously confirmed patient, two more individuals living in other regions were confirmed positive.

Indoor sports facilities like table tennis centers are considered high-risk due to vigorous activities. The district office requested that anyone who visited Mokdong Table Tennis Club in Mok 2-dong between the 28th of last month and the 2nd of this month, Smile Table Tennis Center on the 30th of last month, or Yangcheon Table Tennis Club from the 30th of last month to the 3rd of this month, regardless of symptoms, contact the public health center and get tested.