Busan Language Institute Outbreak Spreads, Triple-Digit Cases Again... 100 Including 'Breakthrough Infections' Recorded

On the 27th, nearby merchants are undergoing proactive COVID-19 testing at the 'Mobile Screening Team' set up in a hof pub at Inhyeon Market, Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] In Busan, where the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases had seemed to slow down after reaching 100, the cases have again recorded triple digits.

Infections have spread in language institutes and bathhouses, and there have been 14 cases of breakthrough infections.

According to Busan City on the 27th, 100 new confirmed cases were reported in a single day.

Among the total confirmed cases, 70 were contacts, 3 were overseas arrivals, and 27 were cases with unknown infection sources (so-called "dark cases").

Among the contacts, there were 19 family contacts, 8 acquaintances, 11 coworkers, 16 from academies, 2 from restaurants, 3 from general pubs, 2 from cafes, 4 from indoor sports facilities, 3 from bathhouses, 1 from PC rooms, and 1 from a goshiwon.

The first confirmed case at a language institute in Buk-gu, confirmed on the 25th, was a staff member of the institute. After testing 116 contacts, 13 additional cases were confirmed.

Three people were also confirmed at a private tutoring institute in Gangseo-gu. The index patient was a staff member of the institute and a contact related to a high school in Saha-gu.

Three additional cases were confirmed at a general pub in Geumjeong-gu. It was confirmed that a contact related to a bathhouse in Dongnae-gu visited the pub, and an epidemiological investigation is underway.

At the bathhouse in Dongnae-gu where a cluster infection occurred, 7 additional cases were confirmed, including 2 users and 5 related contacts. So far, the cumulative confirmed cases are 71 users, 1 staff member, and 17 related contacts.

At the bathhouse in Dong-gu, 1 additional contact was confirmed, bringing the cumulative confirmed cases to 36 (23 users, 2 staff members, and 11 contacts).

At the indoor sports facility in Busanjin-gu, 6 people were confirmed positive during quarantine release testing, including 4 users and 2 related contacts. The total has increased to 11 users and 8 related contacts.

At a high school in Saha-gu, 4 additional related contacts were confirmed positive. The total confirmed cases are 52, including 17 students and 35 related contacts.

At a sports facility in Suyeong-gu, 5 contacts were confirmed positive. The cumulative confirmed cases are 20 users and 46 related contacts.

There were also 14 confirmed breakthrough infection cases related to bathhouses.

These include 13 cases at the bathhouse in Dongnae-gu and 1 case at the bathhouse in Dong-gu. Among these, 5 cases were confirmed as breakthrough infections and 9 are presumed cases.