Changwon Danran Pub Outbreak Spreads to 24+ Cases... Double Digits in Gyeongnam for Four Consecutive Days

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Ju Cheol-in] While the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases related to the community leaders' training in Jinju, Gyeongnam has slowed, 8 additional infections linked to a karaoke bar in Changwon were reported on the 27th alone.

Gyeongnam Province announced on the 27th that 8 more cases were confirmed related to the 'Arari Karaoke Bar' in Changwon, with 6 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon.

As a result, the total confirmed cases related to the 'Arari Karaoke Bar' have increased to 24. Among them, cases 572, 573, and 581 in Gyeongnam are visitors to the 'Arari Karaoke Bar.'

Cases 574 to 576 are contacts of case 525, a previously confirmed case related to the 'Arari Karaoke Bar,' and case 577 is a contact of case 526, another previously confirmed case. Case 582 had contact with a confirmed case at the 'Gukje Sauna' in Changwon.

The health authorities have urged anyone who visited the 'Gukje Sauna' between the 17th and 25th to contact their nearest public health center.

Regarding the karaoke bar, a total of 820 people have been tested so far, including 329 contacts and 491 individuals exposed to the movement paths. Test results show 24 positive, 601 negative, and 196 tests are still pending.

Two confirmed cases in their 30s and 50s in Hapcheon are family members of case 547, who tested positive the previous day.

A person in their 60s in Gimhae underwent a COVID-19 test the previous day for work-related travel and tested positive on the morning of the 27th.

In Jinju, a person in their 60s (case 580), family of case 562 confirmed the previous day, tested positive. In Sacheon, a person in their 60s (case 578), residing there, visited a hospital for personal treatment and was diagnosed positive.

The infection route is unclear, but it was confirmed that this individual visited an internal medicine clinic in Sacheon on the 6th, which was on the movement path of a previously confirmed case.

At that time, two COVID-19 tests were conducted and both were negative, so health authorities are conducting an in-depth investigation to determine if the clinic visit was the infection route.

A Norwegian national male in his 30s was confirmed positive in Geoje and classified as case 579.

There are no additional confirmed cases related to the Jinju community leaders' training, and testing is ongoing for a total of 1,655 people, including 1,119 contacts and 536 individuals exposed to movement paths. The province has dispatched an on-site support team to Jinju to assist with quarantine and epidemiological investigations.

Hadong County has extended the social distancing level 2 measures, which were scheduled to end on this day, for one more week until the 4th of next month.

Accordingly, the cumulative number of confirmed cases in the province has risen to 579 (204 hospitalized, 374 discharged, 1 deceased).