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| Citizens wait in long lines to go through coronavirus testing at a public health center in Incheon, Thursday. Concerns over further spread of COVID-19 are growing following the new cluster of infections at a Coupang logistics center in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province. / Yonhap |
By Jun Ji-hye
The number of COVID-19 patients linked to a Coupang logistics center in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, has been increasing rapidly day after day, putting the health authorities on high alert over further community spread.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said 82 virus patients were traced to the Coupang warehouse as of 11 a.m., Thursday, up from 36 reported at 9 a.m. Wednesday.
The estimated number of employees in the center is 3,600.
Among the 82 cases, 63 were employees of the logistics center, while 19 others had come in contact with them.
The patients mostly live in the nation's capital and nearby areas including Incheon and Gyeonggi Province.
"It is believed that the logistics center has not abided by basic social distancing rules such as wearing face masks and letting employees who feel sick stay home," Health and Welfare Minister Park Neung-hoo said during a government meeting on COVID-19 responses.
The cluster of infections at the Coupang warehouse began after a worker in her 40s tested positive, May 23, after attending the first birthday party of a child of an acquaintance that took place in a buffet restaurant in Bucheon, May 9.
The birthday party has been linked to infections of at least 15 people, and was traced to Itaewon nightclubs that have caused the new wave of infections here.
Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung issued a "no-assembly" administrative order for the logistics center for two weeks, also Thursday, practically banning business operation.
"Many concerns are being raised over the further spread of COVID-19 as the virus has been detected even in hats and shoes worn by the infected in the logistics center," Lee said during a briefing.
Later in the day, the government announced enhanced preventive measures against the virus, which will be applied to the capital region until June 14.
The measures call for temporary suspension of operations of public establishments such as museums and art galleries, among others.
"The government also asks companies in Seoul and nearby areas to utilize flexible working arrangements, or let their employees work from home during the given period," Minister Park said, stressing that the next two weeks will be crucial to stopping the spread of the virus in the region.
Adding to woes is that infections at the warehouse have been already spread to a large-scale call center, also located in Bucheon.
A worker at a call center operated by UBASE was confirmed to have COVID-19, city officials said, noting that the patient in her 20s was found to be the link to the logistics center operated by the e-commerce platform giant.
UBASE is the biggest call center company in Korea. The Bucheon call center is known to employ around 1,600 workers.
The health authorities' epidemiological investigation showed that the patient worked part-time at the Coupang warehouse over the past weekend, and began showing symptoms Monday. She tested positive for the virus the following day.
"The city government has directed all workers having worked on the same floor as the patient to be self-quarantined," Bucheon Mayor Jang Deog-cheon said. "Those working on other floors are undergoing coronavirus tests as well."
Meanwhile, Coupang also said another employee at its other logistics center in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, tested positive for COVID-19, Wednesday. The company shut down the center, where about 500 employees were working.
"We directed all employees at the Goyang facility who had come into contact with the patient to go home and isolate themselves," a Coupang official said.
Amid a spike in infections, the KCDC reported the highest number of daily new virus cases in 53 days ― 79 new cases had been detected Wednesday, which brought the nation's total to 11,344.
No new additional virus-linked deaths were reported, with the death toll remaining at 269.
