COVID-19 outbreak and risk factors for infection in a taekwondo gym in the Republic of Korea

Abstract

Objectives: Relatively few studies have assessed risk factors for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in public facilities used by children and adolescents. This study presents an analysis of a COVID-19 outbreak that occurred in a taekwondo gym in Korea, predominantly among children and adolescents, with the aim of providing insights on managing COVID-19 outbreaks in similar facilities. Methods: All 108 taekwondo gym students and staff received COVID-19 tests. A survey and closed-circuit television analyses were used to identify risk factors. A univariate analysis was conducted, followed by multivariate logistic regression analysis with backward elimination for variables with a significance level <0.10 in the univariate analysis. Results: COVID-19 was confirmed in 30 of 108 subjects at the taekwondo gym (attack rate, 27.8%). The outbreak started in an adult class student. This student transmitted the virus to the staff, who consequently transmitted the virus to adolescent students. In the univariate analysis, the relative risk for younger age (≤9 years) was 2.14 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01–4.54; p=0.054), and that for food consumption inside the gym was 2.12 (95% CI, 1.04–4.30; p=0.048). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, the odds ratio for younger age was 2.96 (95% CI, 1.07–8.20; p=0.036), and that for food consumption inside the gym was 3.00 (95% CI, 1.10–8.17; p=0.032). Conclusion: Food consumption inside the facility and young age were significant risk factors for COVID-19 transmission in this taekwondo gym. Food consumption should be prohibited in sports facilities, and infection prevention education for young students is also required.

Risk factors for COVID-19 outbreaks in livestock slaughtering and processing facilities in Republic of Korea

“…Many reports have emerged of COVID-19 outbreaks in Korea in 2020 from various facilities. Regarding hotspots of community outbreaks, epidemiological studies and reports have been conducted on fitness centers, a call center, nursing facilities, and a taekwondo gym ( Tables S1 , S2 ) [ 8 − 11 ]. In the first half of 2021, outbreaks of COVID-19 occurred at 8 domestic SPFs, greatly impacting the community spread; however, epidemiological studies and reports on COVID-19 outbreaks in domestic SPFs are lacking.…”

The First Outbreak of Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) at an Outdoor Camping Site in South Korea, 2020

“…Novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is transmitted through the respiratory tract of infected individuals 1 , 2 and air transmission in an enclosed space. 3 In South Korea, many COVID-19 outbreaks occurred in closed spaces, crowded places, and close-contact environments (3Cs environment), 4 , 5 such as workplaces, 6 fitness centers, 7 – 9 and nursing homes. 10 However, an outbreak occurred at an outdoor camping site in 2020, raising the need to observe precautions even when outdoors.…”