[Breaking] Busan COVID-19 Patient Breaks Self-Quarantine to Attend Funeral in Suncheon...171 Contacts, 60 Negative Tests

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] A man in his 60s who visited a funeral hall in Suncheon, Jeonnam, was confirmed positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Busan, raising an emergency situation. On the 21st, Suncheon City announced that 60 contacts at the funeral hall who were tested by 2 p.m. all received negative results.

The man had been notified to self-quarantine after contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case in Busan but still visited a funeral hall in Suncheon for a family funeral, staying there for four days (until the 19th). The Busan confirmed case had already traveled to Suncheon by bus on the 16th, the day before the notification.

Afterward, he traveled by private car with relatives back to his home in Busan, and it was only on the 20th that he was tested at the Buk-gu Public Health Center screening clinic in Busan and confirmed positive that day.

Health authorities reviewed CCTV and GPS data from the funeral hall to identify 171 individuals and conducted diagnostic tests to identify additional contacts. As of 2 p.m. on the 21st, 60 people have been tested, all of whom received negative results.