SK Handball Team: 11 Players Infected in Group Outbreak

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] It has been confirmed that the SK Hawks men's handball team experienced a cluster COVID-19 infection.

According to Cheongju City on the 24th, COVID-19 tests were conducted on 13 SK Hawks players and coaching staff the previous afternoon, resulting in 11 positive cases. The other 2 tested negative.

Among the SK Hawks team, one player showed symptoms of cough and chills starting from the 18th, and by the previous day, a total of 9 players exhibited suspected COVID-19 symptoms. Of the 11 confirmed cases, 2 showed no notable symptoms. Authorities are investigating the infection routes.

Based in Cheongju, SK Hawks had 13 players continuing training recently, excluding 8 players who were either called up to the national team or injured out of the total 21 players. They used one floor of the dormitory at the SK Hynix Cheongju factory as their accommodation. It was reported that 3 players commuted from their homes in Cheongju.

SK Hawks completed the '2020-2021 SK Handball Korea League' after their home game in Cheongju on the 9th of last month.

An official from the quarantine authorities stated, "Apart from the 13 tested, no players have participated in training in the past two weeks," adding, "We are investigating the movements of the confirmed cases to identify contacts and confirm the infection routes."