Concentrated in Gyeongju and Pohang in Gyeongbuk... 26 Confirmed Cases in the Last 8 Days
As of Midnight on the 20th, Gyeongbuk Region's Total Confirmed Cases Reach 1,469
On September 14, workers in Hyoheon-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongbuk, are clearing grass at an ancient tomb believed to be the burial site of King Beopheung, the 23rd ruler of Silla. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Dong-wook] The trend of the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) concentrated particularly in Gyeongju and Pohang cities in Gyeongsangbuk-do is unusual. Cases of community infection caused by contact with so-called 'unknown source confirmed cases' whose infection routes have not been identified are continuing in these two local governments.
Although the daily number of confirmed cases is still small, the fact that confirmed cases related to the Chilgok Jangnoesam (wild ginseng) business briefing were first identified in these two local governments in the Gyeongbuk area on the 11th and have been occurring daily since then raises greater concern ahead of the Chuseok holiday. In the past eight days, the number of confirmed cases among residents in the two local governments has reached 26 (16 in Gyeongju, 10 in Pohang).
According to Gyeongbuk Province on the 20th, three and one confirmed cases were diagnosed in Gyeongju and Pohang respectively the previous day due to community infection. In Gyeongsan, a person in their 20s who entered from Uzbekistan was confirmed positive. As of midnight on that day, the cumulative number of confirmed cases in the Gyeongbuk area increased by five from the previous day to 1,469. The cumulative confirmed cases in Gyeongju and Pohang are 83 (82 according to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters) and 71, respectively.
Two new confirmed cases in their 40s and 50s in Gyeongju are the mothers of the 80th confirmed case at Gyerim Middle School (Gyeongju) and the 79th confirmed case, a student at Munhwa High School. Another woman in her 40s (resident of Yonggang-dong, 82nd case) in Gyeongju is the wife of the already confirmed 78th case. All three were identified as having had contact with confirmed cases and were tested, resulting in positive diagnoses.
In Pohang, a person in their 70s who was hospitalized at Semyung Christian Hospital in Pohang, Gyeongbuk, was confirmed positive. This hospital is where a single elderly man in his 90s, who was confirmed positive on the 16th and died shortly after, had been hospitalized from the 10th of last month until recently. Accordingly, the quarantine authorities have placed the entire 8th floor of this hospital under cohort isolation.
The elderly man in his 90s who died on the 16th was found in a weakened state at home by a care welfare worker after being discharged from this hospital, and a woman in her 60s who is a care welfare worker was also confirmed positive. At present, it is unknown when and where the elderly man in his 90s was infected.
Meanwhile, Pohang and Gyeongju cities issued administrative orders on the 18th and 19th at midnight mandating mask-wearing not only indoors but also outdoors on the streets.
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