9 Additional Confirmed Cases from Pohang City Bathhouse... 18 New Confirmed Cases Across Gyeongbuk

Three Bathhouses in Pohang Confirm 18 Cases Since the 5th
...Buseong Bathhouse in Jukdo-dong Now at 15 Cases
As of Midnight on the 23rd, Gyeongbuk's Total Confirmed Cases Reach 2,809

Medical staff are collecting specimens at a temporary screening clinic set up in front of Seoul Station on the morning of the 22nd. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Dong-wook] A new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) chain infection originating from a bathhouse in Pohang has occurred, adding 18 new confirmed cases in the Gyeongbuk area in just one day on the 22nd.

According to Gyeongbuk Province on the 23rd, as of midnight, the cumulative number of confirmed cases in the Gyeongbuk area was 2,809 (including 27 imported cases), which is 18 more than the previous day.

The new confirmed cases by region are 12 in Pohang City, 3 in Gumi City, 2 in Gyeongsan City, and 1 in Gyeongju City.

Among the 12 new confirmed cases in Pohang City, 9 are related to the Buseong Bathhouse in Jukdo-dong. The other 3 are contacts of previously confirmed cases (Pohang numbers 325, 336, and 354).

In Pohang, confirmed cases among bathhouse users have been steadily continuing since the 5th, including 15 cumulative cases at Buseong Bathhouse in Jukdo-dong (as of midnight on the 22nd), 1 case at Spa Valley Bathhouse in Jangseong-dong, and 2 cases at Yangdeok Gwangcheon Hot Spring in Jukcheon-ri, Heunghae-eup.

About 10% of the phone numbers listed in the bathhouse entry logs are found to be false, causing difficulties for health authorities in contact tracing.

Among the 3 new confirmed cases in Gumi City, 2 were classified as contacts of Gumi number 331, confirmed on the 15th, and tested positive during self-quarantine. The other case is a contact of Gumi number 341, confirmed on the 18th, who had contact with a confirmed case from Masan.

Among the 2 new confirmed cases in Gyeongsan City, 1 is a contact of Gyeongsan number 813, confirmed on the 21st, and the infection route of the other case is unknown. The 1 new confirmed case in Gyeongju City tested positive in a test before the end of self-quarantine after contact with Gyeongju number 221, confirmed on the 7th.

In Gyeongsangbuk-do, 86 people (excluding imported cases) have been confirmed in various areas over the past week, with the weekly daily average number of confirmed cases recorded at 12.3.