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Covid in K-pop: 5 of 6 STAYC members test positive, fans worried about KCON

STAYC cancelled their stages for a music festival and music show while postponing their first fan meeting

It looks like there is a new Covid-19 outbreak in South Korea. While it had calmed down from May onwards with concerts, world tours, matches and other live events resuming, South Korea will again have to implement a strict social distancing guideline. STAYC has become the latest K-pop act to get affected as we had five of six members testing positive hours before a music festival and a music show appearance. They were also roped in for several KCON events which now seems doubtful.

On August 8, we first had Isa, Sumin, Sieun and Seeun testing positive after Sieun experienced mild symptoms. Due to it, they had to cancel the 2022 Ulsan Summer Festival and their stage for ‘Show! Music Core’ which was supposed to be held on the same day. Well, the next day on August 9, we had J becoming the fifth member getting diagnosed with Covid-19 after taking a precautionary test. All of the members had taken three shots of the vaccine. They are currently being isolated at home and being treated. Yoon is the only member who tested negative.

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5 of 6 STAYC members get Covid-19

The girls were supposed to hold their first fanmeeting ‘Stay Cool Party’ on August 13. However, it has been postponed to an indefinite date which will be announced after STAYC recovers. The fate of their future schedules will also be announced later which includes KCON LA set to take place on August 19 and 21 and the KCON US Tour beginning on August 22.

In the last 30 days, the cases are slowly rising in the K-pop and K-drama industries. The celebrities that tested positive include Kang Ki-young of ‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo’ fame, Highlight’s Gikwang and Yoseob, Super Junior’s Siwon, Kim Jaehwan, B1A4’s Gongchan, WJSN’s Dawon, Exy and Yeoreum, EPEX’s Keum, 5 TRI.BE members, NCT’s Mark, Renjun, Jaehyun, Johnny, Kim Tae-ri, co-star So Ji-sub, Zico, Ciganture’s Belle and Semi, Han Hyo-joo, Enhypen’s Jay, Heeseung and Jake, Jo Yuri, Billlie’s Suhyeon and Siyoon, Kep1er’s Yeseo and Winner’s Jinwoo.

On August 8, it was reported that there were over 149k new cases in South Korea. Authorities estimate that it could peak at 200k cases a day if they don’t contain it. This is the highest it has been since April when even tons of K-pop idols were testing positive every day. Several concert-goers had also claimed that they had ended up with Covid-19 after attending PSY’s 'Summer Swag' concert. And while music shows had resumed a live audience, ‘Inkigayo’ has once again banned cheers to curb the spread.

‘I hate life’

Fans sent supportive messages to STAYC as they made tweets like, “My girls, i hope they can get well soon.” Another shared, “Once I saw that annoucement, pffft, i hate life.” One fan wrote, “I really hope stayc makes a full recovery but i wont lie and say i’ll be extremely disheartened if they cant make it to kcon la next week.” Fans also hoped the girls would not blame themselves, “U don't need to be sorry yoon-ahhh."

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