Gyeongnam Province Reports 89 New COVID-19 Cases... Spread Linked to Bars and Restaurants (Comprehensive Report 2)

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Ju Cheol-in] Gyeongsangnam-do announced that as of 5 p.m. on the 22nd, 46 new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) have been reported.

By region, there are 38 in Changwon, 22 in Gimhae, 8 in Yangsan, 6 in Hamyang, 3 each in Jinju, Geoje, and Tongyeong, 2 in Sancheong, and 1 each in Sacheon, Miryang, Geochang, and Hapcheon.

Among the confirmed cases in Changwon, 18 had contact with confirmed cases within the province, and 1 had contact with a confirmed case in Seoul.

Six others are related to a Masan entertainment bar. As a result, the number of confirmed cases related to the Masan entertainment bar in Changwon has increased to 70.

Two confirmed cases related to a Changwon restaurant also occurred. Thus, the cumulative confirmed cases related to the Changwon restaurant have increased to 61. Ten cases are currently under investigation for their infection routes.

One other confirmed case in Changwon and five confirmed cases in Gimhae, including foreigners, are related to Gimhae Entertainment Bar II.

Previously, one person confirmed positive on the 17th and whose infection route was under investigation, along with eight of their contacts, were also confirmed to be related to Gimhae Entertainment Bar II, bringing the cumulative confirmed cases related to Gimhae Entertainment Bar II to 205.

Among the confirmed cases in Gimhae, six had contact with confirmed cases within the province, and four had contact with confirmed cases in Busan.

Two other confirmed cases in Gimhae are family members of confirmed cases related to the Changwon restaurant, bringing the cumulative confirmed cases related to the Changwon restaurant to 63. The remaining five confirmed cases in Gimhae are under investigation for their infection routes.

Among the confirmed cases in Yangsan, four are family members of confirmed cases within the province, and two are acquaintances of confirmed cases in Busan. The other two tested positive after being tested due to COVID-19 symptoms, and their infection routes are being investigated.

Among the confirmed cases in Hamyang, three had contact with confirmed cases within the province, and one was infected after contact with a confirmed case in Seoul. Two other confirmed cases in Hamyang are under investigation for their infection routes.

Two confirmed cases in Jinju are family members of confirmed cases related to a Jinju entertainment bar. The cumulative confirmed cases related to the Jinju entertainment bar are 35. The remaining confirmed case in Jinju is an acquaintance of a confirmed case in Busan.

The three confirmed cases in Geoje are acquaintances or coworkers of confirmed cases within the province.

The three confirmed cases in Tongyeong tested positive related to a Tongyeong entertainment bar. The cumulative confirmed cases related to the Tongyeong entertainment bar are 28.

One confirmed case in Sancheong is a family member of a confirmed case within the province, and one had contact with a confirmed case in Busan.

Confirmed cases in Geochang, Sacheon, and Miryang were infected after contact with confirmed cases within the province, and the confirmed case in Hapcheon had contact with a confirmed case in Gyeonggi-do.

Accordingly, the cumulative confirmed cases in the province have increased to a total of 6,354 (892 hospitalized, 5,443 discharged, 19 deceased).

Kwon Yang-geun, Director of the Welfare and Health Bureau, said, "Confirmed cases related to entertainment bars are increasing," and urged, "When using facilities where droplet transmission is easy or multi-use facilities, it is necessary to strictly follow quarantine rules more thoroughly than usual."