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Covid in K-pop: Stray Kids' Han, Changbin sick on comeback day, fans say 'clean JYPE'

JYPE's Itzy, NMIXX, DAY6's Wonpil all fell sick on important days like anniversary and debut

Stray Kids’ Han has become the 37th idol to test positive in the third week of March. 120 idols alone had gotten Covid-19 in February, and the case numbers are expected to rise as the next South Korean president vows to lift all social distancing restrictions. With Omicron not being considered lethal yet, K-pop idols are made to attend their schedule among mass gatherings. 

But now, the new Covid-19 strain has created havoc as it is hindering these idols’ important gigs. Blackpink’s Rosé had to sit out of YSL’s show at Paris Fashion Week while Loona’s points will be affected in the survival show ‘Queendom 2’. It also delayed debuts and comebacks of groups like Kep1er, NMIXX, DAY6’s Wonpil and Tempest while birthday boys, BTOB’s Peniel and Hyunsik fell sick on their special days. And now, on the day of Stray Kids’ comeback, two members, Han and Changbin have tested positive.

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Han and Changbin get Covid-19

Fans were excited when Stray Kids announced their sixth K-pop mini-album ‘ODDINARY’ after the immense success of their second studio album ‘NOEASY’. K-pop Twitter then exploded on the comeback day when the boys dropped the music video for ‘Maniac’. Unfortunately, just after their first music show stage on March 18, it was reported that Changbin had tested positive for Covid-19. He had halted all of his schedules and was in quarantine. But since he had come in contact with all of the members, the rest of Stray Kids also took PCR tests.

Unfortunately, in the same 24 hours, their label, JYPE reported that Han had become the next Stray Kids member to get Covid-19. He has taken his second vaccine shot, does not have any symptoms and he too is in quarantine. The rest of Stray Kids will continue with their schedules but will be living separately and monitoring their health.

'What is this Covid curse JYPE'

Fans are frustrated as the boys fell sick right on the day of their comeback. While sending supportive messages to Han and Changbin they also requested JYPE to better protect their artists. Stray Kids are the next JYPE group to contract the virus following the label’s rookie girl group NMIXX whose debut was delayed due to Covid-19. One Stay tweeted, “Get well soon babies<3 Ah hope we won’t get any more of that “hello, this is JYPE”…” Another fan commented, “Okay then if JYPE really cares about the idols health, clean the f**king building. JYPE idols like itzy and NMIXX got covid cause your damn building isn’t properly maintained and cleansed. Who knows what type of diseases there are in that building.”

One Stay posted, “Jypent. y'all better clean jype building rn. We don't want any "Hello this is Jyp- blah blah.” Another added, “It's not only about focusing on their 'personal hygiene'. they're at the company every single day, and considering some of jype's artists got tested positive even with no promotion proved that the building really needs to be thoroughly sanitized.” One fan lamented, “What is this covid curse jype 😭😭 first wonpil on his debut day, then nmixx on their debut and now skz on comeback day 😭😭 stay safe and healthy everyone.”