Kumho Tire Gokseong Plant Halts Operations Due to COVID-19 Confirmed Case

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Chunsu] Kumho Tire's Gokseong plant has suspended operations due to the occurrence of COVID-19 cases.

On the 30th, Kumho Tire, following the COVID-19 positive diagnosis of a Gokseong plant employee, consulted with quarantine authorities and decided to halt the plant's operation starting from 4 PM, the time the positive diagnosis was confirmed, and ordered a shutdown for the afternoon and night shifts.

They are also identifying close contacts within the plant while conducting disinfection work simultaneously.

Kumho Tire is currently consulting with quarantine authorities on whether to resume operations at the shift change between the night shift and the next morning shift.

The Gokseong plant employee who tested positive for COVID-19 was confirmed to have had contact with a previously confirmed positive case who was a subcontractor employee.

These confirmed cases are related to individuals connected to a popular hometown restaurant in Gwangju, where transmission occurred during a meal gathering after a recreational soccer match.

The cluster infection related to the hometown restaurant, starting with the index patient Gwangju case number 676 and accumulating to 20 cases, is rapidly spreading to coworkers, family members, and acquaintances.

It has spread to large workplaces such as Samsung Electronics Gwangju Plant, Kia Motors Gwangju Plant, Winia Electronics, Emart Gwangju Branch, as well as to four elementary and middle schools.