Virus trapped by air conditioning? ... 66 confirmed cases including cluster infections in closed offices in Busan

On Sunday, August 1st, the Haeundae Beach in Busan appeared less crowded than usual. Although late July and early August mark the peak vacation season, the number of beachgoers has significantly decreased due to the spread of COVID-19.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] A total of 66 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Busan, including a series of cluster infections at workplaces.

Health authorities believe that the infections likely occurred in office spaces where people were confined due to air conditioning during the heatwave.

Among the 17 critically ill patients confirmed positive, more than half are under their 50s and have no underlying health conditions, drawing attention from health officials.

Busan City announced that 66 new COVID-19 cases were reported from the afternoon of the previous day until the morning of the 2nd. The cumulative number of confirmed cases in Busan has risen to 8,398.

Among all confirmed cases, 2 were overseas arrivals, 50 were contacts, and 14 were cases under investigation with unknown infection sources.

The 50 contacts included 15 family members, 14 acquaintances, and 11 coworkers. Contacts at multi-use facilities included 3 at sports facilities, 2 at bathhouses, 2 at restaurants, 1 at a PC room, and 1 taxi driver.

A new cluster infection occurred at a workplace in Saha-gu, where multiple cases were confirmed.

After one employee tested positive on the 29th of last month, an investigation of 49 contacts, including employees, found a total of 8 confirmed cases including 2 on this day. Twenty-three contacts are currently in quarantine.

Health authorities estimate that the infection spread while working in the same-floor office space with windows closed and the air conditioner running.

Existing cluster infections continued, with one additional acquaintance and one family member testing positive at the Industrial Bank of Korea’s Saha-gu Sinpyeong-dong branch, where 6 employees had already been confirmed positive by the previous day.

At a bathhouse in Dongnae-gu, one contact and two users in quarantine were additionally infected, increasing the related confirmed cases to 113.

At a high school in Saha-gu, two contacts tested positive, bringing the total confirmed cases to 60.

At the Chanel store in Shinsegae Department Store Centum City, where 12 employees and acquaintances were confirmed positive, no new cases were reported on this day. The store has been closed since the 29th of last month.

Among the 17 critically ill patients in Busan, 10 (58.8%) had no underlying health conditions, and about 12 (70.5%) were under their 50s.

Busan City analyzes that the increase in critically ill patients under their 50s is due to the low vaccination rate in this age group, the Delta variant virus circulating locally which has 1.6 times faster transmission than the Alpha variant, and a more than twofold higher rate of progression to critical illness.