[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kang Sharon] Gyeongnam Province announced on the 24th that 97 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported in the province after 5 p.m. on the 23rd.
By region, there were 50 cases in Changwon, 20 in Gimhae, 9 in Jinju, 3 in Geoje, 2 each in Uiryeong, Changnyeong, Haman, and Geochang, and 1 each in Sacheon, Yangsan, Tongyeong, Namhae, Hadong, Sancheong, and Hamyang.
Except for 2 confirmed cases in Changwon who are Korean nationals returning from overseas, all cases are locally transmitted.
Among the locally transmitted cases, 54 had contact with confirmed cases within the province such as family, acquaintances, and coworkers.
Eight had contact with confirmed cases from other regions, and 20 are under investigation for their infection routes.
The remaining 13 cases are related to a cluster infection at a company in Changwon.
After case number 9338 in Gyeongnam was confirmed on the 21st, one employee of this company tested positive on the 22nd during contact tracing.
Subsequently, after testing 83 related contacts, 11 employees and 2 family members of this company were additionally confirmed positive.
The cumulative number of confirmed cases related to the Changwon company cluster is 15.
Health authorities have temporarily closed and disinfected the company and are conducting an in-depth epidemiological investigation.
The cumulative number of confirmed cases in the province has risen to 9,551 (994 hospitalized, 8,530 discharged, 27 deceased).
Meanwhile, variant viruses have also been additionally confirmed among confirmed cases in the province.
Health authorities reported that since the 17th, variant viruses have been identified in 167 confirmed cases in the province (157 local transmissions, 10 overseas arrivals).
Except for one Alpha variant case, all are Delta variants.
Among local transmission cases, Delta variants were confirmed in one case related to a workplace in Uiryeong and four cases related to a large supermarket in Changwon.
All overseas arrival cases are also Delta variants.
The cumulative number of variant virus infections in the province has increased to 854 (784 local transmissions, 70 overseas arrivals).
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