Covid in K-pop: Six female idols from groups Loona, ITZY, and Apink test positive
Just as fans of the girl group were finally going to watch Loona perform and compete at the Mnet girl group survival show ‘Queendom 2’, three out of the 12 members from Loona have reported testing positive for Covid. Just as we thought that Covid was coming to an end, more and more K-pop idols reported testing positive for the virus. With the severity of the Coronavirus finally decreasing, many artists are able to bounce back to their original routines after a short weekly hiatus.
Now as Loona’s Haseul, Yeojin, and Vivi have tested positive for Covid, JYP Entertainment announced that Ryujin from the girl group ITZY had also fallen sick due to the virus. On the same day, Apink's Hayoung and Eunji also tested positive, while other Apink members were negative. ITZY's Ryujin is now the fourth member of ITZY, after Lia, Yeji, and Chaeryeong, to contract the virus in the last week and a half. Yuna is the only member of the girl group who has not tested positive for Covid.
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Loona drops out of Mnet’s ‘Queendom 2’
With Loona members were ready to attend the filming of the Mnet show, ‘Queendom 2’s premiere episode, they went through the mandatory Covid PCR test, in which, three out of the 12 members of the group tested positive for Covid. On February 28, Blockberry Creative, the label that manages the activities of Loona reported that members Haseul, Yeojin and Vivi had all tested positive for Covid when their rapid antigen tests, as well as their PCR tests, rendered positive results.
The label also reported that members Haseul and Vivi had completed two doses of the Covid vaccine, whereas Yeojin had completed her third dose for the same. Now as the three test positive for the virus, it was reported that the group will cancel all their upcoming schedules and quarantine as per the health guidelines. Loona members were slated to participate in the Mnet variety show ‘Queendom 2’ but with this new development, all members of the group canceled their appearance on the Round 1 filming of the show that was scheduled on February 28.
ITZY’s Ryujin tests positive for Covid
On February 28, JYP Entertainment reported another Covid positive case among ITZY members as Ryujin became the newest member of the group to fall sick. The label announced that Ryujin had tested positive for the virus. As soon as Ryujin tested positive for the virus with a self-test kit, she immediately proceeded with a PCR test and received a positive result.
Ryujin is now the fourth member of ITZY to fall sick due to the Coronavirus after Yeji became the first member of the group who tested positive on February 14, she was followed by Chaeryeon who tested positive on February 16, and then it was Lia who tested positive on February 19. Just as other members were starting to get released from their quarantine schedules, Ryujin tested positive for Covid and has canceled all her upcoming schedules as she quarantines.
JYP Entertainment also announced that Ryujin, who had completed the third dose of her Covid vaccine, is currently only showing symptoms like mild cough and is receiving treatment for the same.
Apink's Eunji and Hayoung fall sick too
On the same day, IST Entertainment, the label that manages the activities of Apink, announced that members Jung Eun Ji (Eunji) and Oh Hayoung had both tested positive for Covid after experiencing some symptoms on Sunday, February 27. Both Eunji and Hayoung first carried out tests using self-testing kits.
As of February 28, both members took their PCR tests which revealed that both of them were Covid positive. Eunji and Hayoung do not have any special symptoms other than the common cold and are currently in quarantine. All other members have tested negative for Covid despite Chorong, Bomi and Namjoo being in direct contact with Eumji and Hayoung due to their comeback schedule.
Apink made their comeback with their 10th-anniversary studio album 'Horn', for which, they had already wrapped up all promotions and schedules. Apink members will be in isolation in compliance with the health guidelines.