Hwasun-gun Conducts 'Comprehensive Testing' for Contacts of 'Yeongam Case No. 3'

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Young-gyun] Hwasun-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Gu Chung-gon) announced on the 9th that it conducted COVID-19 mass testing on about 100 people, including elementary school teachers and students, who were close contacts of Jeonnam patient No. 31 (Yeongam patient No. 3).

Yeongam patient No. 3 is a public official working at the Geumjeong Administrative Welfare Center in Yeongam-gun and lives in Neungju with his older sister and nephew.

The older sister is a public official at Yeongam County Office, and the nephew is a student attending an elementary school in Dogok.

The close contacts, the older sister and nephew, had specimens collected by Yeongam-gun Public Health Center at 2 a.m. that day and were sent to the Jeonnam Provincial Institute of Health and Environment for diagnostic testing.

The county requested specimen collection from three family members, including the mother, who had contact with Yeongam patient No. 3 at the Neungju parents' house.

Also, an epidemiological investigation of close contacts was conducted during the morning, and emergency disinfection was completed at the residences, schools, and children's centers of the contacts.

Preventive mass COVID-19 testing is also being conducted on about 100 teachers and students at Dogok Jungang Elementary School, Dogok Elementary School, and Dogok Supjeongi Regional Children's Center, who may have overlapping movement paths with the nephew.

The affected schools and children's centers have been suspended from attending and using the facilities.

The county is collecting specimens at the drive-thru screening clinic installed in the second parking lot of Haneum Culture and Sports Center for rapid diagnostic testing.

Governor Gu Chung-gon said, "COVID-19 is spreading very rapidly in the Gwangju and Jeonnam areas, making the situation more serious and severe than ever," and urged, "Please refrain from entering high-risk facilities that are enclosed, crowded, and involve close contact, and especially avoid small gatherings at religious facilities."