Shinsegae Department Store Gangnam Branch COVID-19 Cases Increase to 6... One User Confirmed Positive

Shinsegae Department Store Gangnam Branch Food Hall. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] COVID-19 cluster infections are occurring one after another in the food halls of department stores in Seoul.

According to Seoul City on the 7th, a total of six COVID-19 confirmed cases related to Shinsegae Department Store Gangnam Branch in Seocho-gu have been identified, including five employees and one customer. Earlier, the department store announced that a food hall cashier showed symptoms on the afternoon of the 1st, was tested on the 2nd, and received a positive result on the 3rd. Subsequently, additional colleagues and customers tested positive.

On the 5th, Seocho-gu sent an emergency disaster message urging visitors to the Shinsegae Department Store Gangnam Branch food hall from April 29 to May 2 to get tested for COVID-19. On the 6th, another disaster message was sent advising those who visited the side dish corner of the food hall on May 4 and 5 to undergo testing.

Recently, a cluster infection also occurred in the food hall of Lotte Department Store Main Branch in Jung-gu, with a cumulative total of 13 confirmed cases as of the 6th. Since the 1st of this month, employees of the fresh supermarket section within the food hall at Lotte Department Store Main Branch have been consecutively confirmed positive. The department store suspended food hall operations from the 3rd, temporarily closed for one day on the 6th for disinfection, and conducted COVID-19 testing on about 3,700 workers, including partner company employees.