One More Case Linked to Shinsegae Department Store Luxury Store, Chain Infections Continue in Busan Including Banks and Cafes

141 Confirmed Cases in Bu-Ul-Gyeong: 72 in Busan, 41 in Gyeongnam, 8 in Ulsan

On the 31st, Shinsegae Department Store Centum City in Haeundae-gu, Busan, appeared quieter than usual weekends. A cluster infection occurred at a luxury brand store within this department store, increasing the number of confirmed cases to 12. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] One additional confirmed case has occurred originating from the luxury brand store at Shinsegae Department Store Centum City in Haeundae, Busan. The individual was an employee under self-quarantine.

Since one luxury store employee was first confirmed positive on the 28th of last month, additional confirmed cases have occurred daily, increasing to 12 people including employees and acquaintances as of today. During this period, it has been identified that approximately 1,600 visitors visited the store, raising ongoing concerns about further spread.

According to Busan City on the 1st, 72 new confirmed cases were reported in Busan in one day.

At the luxury brand store in Shinsegae Department Store Centum City, where 11 employees and contacts had been confirmed positive until the previous day, one more employee under quarantine was confirmed positive today.

The cumulative confirmed cases at the store have increased to 12, including 7 employees and 5 contacts.

Among the approximately 1,600 visitors identified as subjects for testing, 607 visitors had completed diagnostic tests as of the previous day.

The store is currently closed, and a total of 109 people, including 55 department store employees and 54 users, are under quarantine.

On the same day, a new cluster infection occurred in Saha District. One bank employee was confirmed positive the previous day, and after investigating all employees and bank users who had contact, 5 additional employees were infected, increasing the total confirmed bank counter employees to 6.

Health authorities are identifying the list of customers who visited the bank through epidemiological investigations.

Also, at a cafe in Haeundae District where a visitor was first confirmed positive on the 29th of last month, following the infection of the cafe operator and two visitors the previous day, two more visitors were confirmed positive today.

The cafe is a small establishment operating five tables, and health authorities report that internal ventilation was inadequate.

At the language institute in Buk District and the bathhouse in Dongnae District, where previous cluster infections occurred, two family contacts and one user were additionally infected today, respectively.

The cumulative confirmed cases at these establishments have increased to 27 (17 students, 3 employees, 7 contacts) and 106 (75 users, 1 employee, 30 related contacts), respectively.

On the same day, 41 and 8 additional confirmed cases were reported in Gyeongnam and Ulsan, respectively.

In Gyeongnam, the cases are distributed as follows: 23 in Changwon, 8 in Gimhae, 3 in Miryang, 2 each in Geoje and Goseong, and 1 each in Jinju, Sacheon, and Hamyang.

Among the 8 additional confirmed cases in Ulsan, 5 are contacts of existing confirmed cases, and among the remaining 3, 2 are overseas entrants, and 1 is a case with an unknown infection route currently under investigation.