Taekwondo Kick 'Group Infection' in Andong City, All Daycare Centers 'Closed'... 150 Close Contacts Under Epidemiological Investigation

Mayor Kwon Young-se of Andong City giving an emergency briefing on the 28th.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Dong-wook] In relation to the outbreak of a COVID-19 cluster infection at a Taekwondo academy, Andong City announced on the 28th that it has ordered the closure of 94 daycare centers.

In Andong, at Mirae Taekwondo in Songhyeon-dong, a total of 33 people, including the head instructor, 26 students, and 6 family members, tested positive for COVID-19 over two days on the 26th and 27th.

The 26 confirmed students include 1 kindergarten student, 18 elementary school students, 2 high school students, and 5 general public members. Among the 33 confirmed cases, 7 were asymptomatic, and 26 reportedly showed mild fever and headache symptoms.

Health authorities are conducting an in-depth epidemiological investigation, identifying about 150 close contacts of these 33 individuals. In connection with this, a temporary mobile screening clinic has been set up at the playground of Songhyeon Elementary School, near the Taekwondo academy.

Mayor Kwon Young-se said, "We will designate the next week as a special quarantine period and deploy all public officials to focus on preventing the spread of COVID-19," adding, "We will take strong legal actions such as criminal charges and claims for damages against businesses and individuals violating quarantine rules based on epidemiological investigations," urging active participation in proactive testing.