[Asia Economy Reporter Hyungsoo Park] Amid the outbreak of a cluster infection of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Daejeon, concerns are growing that it could spread to the adjacent Chungbuk region.
According to Chungbuk Province on the 20th, among the confirmed COVID-19 cases in Daejeon, it was reported that three individuals recently visited Cheongju and Yeongdong, leading to the self-quarantine of 25 close contacts.
The quarantine authorities confirmed that one of the confirmed cases who tested positive in Daejeon stayed at their home in Yeongdong from 8:30 PM on the 16th until early the next morning. Person A is known to have stayed only at home. Two family members were placed under self-quarantine.
Another confirmed case in Daejeon also visited a restaurant in Seowon-gu, Cheongju, around noon on the 16th. The health authorities classified two people who were at the restaurant at the time as close contacts and placed them under self-quarantine.
Twenty-one people who had contact with a confirmed case from Daejeon who visited a prayer house and nearby restaurants in Nam-il-myeon, Sangdang-gu, Cheongju, on the morning of the 14th were also placed under self-quarantine. Although all tested negative in initial specimen tests, Chungbuk Province judged that it cannot be considered safe until the end of this month when the incubation period ends.
Chungbuk Province has strengthened quarantine and inspections of high-risk facilities such as nursing homes and call centers. Through safety guidance text messages, they urged people to refrain from visiting areas showing signs of COVID-19 spread, such as Daejeon.
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