Gyeongju and Pohang Cities, 2nd Week of Community Infections... Caregiver at Gyeongju Elderly Care Facility Also 'Confirmed'

Since the 11th, 22 cases in Gyeongju and 25 in Pohang 'Transmission Among Residents'
Gyeongju and Pohang Cities Agree to Jointly Implement 'Social Distancing Level 2' for Chuseok
As of 0:00 on the 26th, Cumulative Confirmed Cases in Gyeongbuk Region

Mayor Jun Nak-yeong of Gyeongju City giving a public briefing on the 25th regarding the consecutive COVID-19 confirmed cases.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Dong-wook] In Gyeongju and Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk-do, community transmission of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has continued daily for two weeks since the 11th.

On the 25th, three people tested positive: two in Pohang and one in Gyeongju. As of midnight on the 26th, the cumulative confirmed cases in Gyeongsangbuk-do increased by three from the previous day to 1,491. The cumulative confirmed cases in Gyeongju stand at 89 (88 according to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters), and 85 in Pohang.

According to Gyeongsangbuk-do on the 26th, in Pohang, a man in his 70s was classified as a contact of a confirmed case (Pohang case number 79) and tested at Pohang Nam-gu Public Health Center, receiving a positive result. A man in his 60s, who became the 85th confirmed case in Pohang, was also classified as a contact of confirmed cases (Pohang case numbers 79 and 84), tested, and confirmed positive.

In Gyeongju, a care worker in her 50s at the elderly care facility "Myeonghwa House" in Bulguk-dong was classified as a contact of a confirmed case (Gyeongju case number 88) on the 25th, tested, and received a positive diagnosis. It was identified that this confirmed case showed cold symptoms before being tested. The quarantine authorities are conducting epidemiological investigations, including specimen tests for 37 patients and 67 staff members at the elderly care facility.

In Gyeongsangbuk-do, community transmission cases have been continuously confirmed especially in Gyeongju and Pohang since the 11th, following infections related to the Chilgok wild ginseng (Jangnoesam) business briefing. Over the past 13 days, 47 residents in these two municipalities alone have been confirmed positive (22 in Gyeongju, 25 in Pohang).

In this regard, Gyeongju City and Pohang City have agreed to jointly enforce Level 2 social distancing measures in preparation for the Chuseok holiday. Until now, Gyeongju had elevated social distancing to Level 2, while Pohang maintained Level 1.5.

On the 25th, Gyeongju Mayor Ju Nak-young said in a video briefing, "I ask all citizens to endure just a little longer in these difficult and exhausting times," emphasizing, "The city will also do its utmost by mobilizing all administrative power to bring an early end to the COVID-19 situation."