Gwangju Choir Gathering and School-Related Infections Spread Widely... 33 Confirmed Cases in Gwangju on the 2nd

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Cho Hyung-joo] In the Gwangju area, COVID-19 cluster infections continue unabated, centered around choir groups and elementary, middle, and high school students.

According to Gwangju Metropolitan City as of 2 PM on the 2nd, 33 people tested positive for COVID-19 in Gwangju, classified as cases number 6354 to 6386.

There was 1 case related to a religious facility in Gwangsan-gu, 1 case related to manufacturing in Gwangsan-gu, 10 cases related to a leisure gathering in Dong-gu, 1 case related to middle school (B) in Seo-gu, 1 case related to a kindergarten in Seo-gu, 5 cases related to confirmed patients from other cities/provinces, 10 cases related to previously confirmed patients including 2 before release, and 4 cases under investigation due to symptoms.

The confirmed cases related to the leisure gathering in Dong-gu are from a choir group in Dong-gu, where 10 additional people tested positive on this day, increasing the cumulative confirmed cases to 29.

Among the confirmed cases on this day, 7 are students in their 60s at a music academy operated by one of the confirmed choir members. Of these, 3 are either overlapping in movement paths or acquaintances, and one of the acquaintances is known to belong to another choir group in the region.

The 1 case related to the religious facility in Gwangsan-gu and the 1 case related to manufacturing are of Russian and Cambodian nationality, respectively.

The 1 case related to the middle school in Seo-gu and the 1 kindergarten case were confirmed positive while either in quarantine or before release, respectively.

Besides these, most of the cases related to confirmed patients from other cities/provinces and previously confirmed patients were infections among coworkers, acquaintances, or family members.

Over two days, one confirmed case each was reported at 5 locations: 2 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 2 high schools, leading to 2,897 students and others undergoing comprehensive testing.

At the two locations tested on the 1st, all tested negative except for the index patients, and testing is ongoing at the remaining three locations.