Gwangju "Investigating Link Between First Local Infection and Daejeon-Jeonju Direct Sales"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Health authorities believe that the chain infection in the Gwangju area is likely related to door-to-door sales companies in Daejeon and Jeonju.

According to Gwangju City on the 4th, the 83rd confirmed case in Gwangju was confirmed to have come into contact with a confirmed case from a door-to-door sales company in Goejeong-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon on the 11th of last month.

The 83rd confirmed case is a tenant on the 5th floor of Geumyang Officetel and was also found to have shared contact information and interacted with the 43rd confirmed case, a tenant on the 10th floor.

In Gwangju, COVID-19 cases had been subdued for a while, but starting with the 34th patient on the 27th of last month, 63 people have been confirmed over eight days until the morning of this day.

The 37th confirmed case, initially classified as a contact of the 34th confirmed case, was found to have connections with Geumyang Officetel and door-to-door sales companies in other regions, and there is also evidence that the 37th and 83rd confirmed cases had contact with the 43rd confirmed case.

Subsequently, the 49th patient, a door-to-door sales seller of health supplements who had contact with the 43rd confirmed case, was confirmed positive, and additional confirmed cases due to further contact have occurred.

Gwangju City confirmed that the company of the 49th confirmed case and the D door-to-door sales company near Geumyang Officetel are officially registered companies, and recently issued closure orders due to the risk of COVID-19 infection.

Gwangju City is analyzing GPS data through the mobile phones and vehicles of existing confirmed cases, and it was confirmed that some contacts at Gwangneuksa Temple also visited Geumyang Officetel.

Health authorities revealed that the 28th confirmed case in Jeonbuk, a member of Ilgok Central Church in Gwangju, also attended a small church meeting with the 78th confirmed case, and it is believed that the infection likely occurred through door-to-door sales companies in other regions and Geumyang Officetel, rather than inside the church or in Gochang, Jeonbuk.

The 78th confirmed case was infected after contact with the 43rd confirmed case, a tenant on the 10th floor of Geumyang Officetel.