Covid in K-pop: Astro's Eunwoo, 2 Victon, Ghost9 and 4 Weeekly members test postive
Over 120 idols have tested Covid-positive in February and now there are fears that the number might double if new South Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol follows up on his words and lifts all pandemic restrictions. Seventeen idols tested positive on March 14. The next day, on March 15, both EXO's Kai and TXT’s Kai tested positive. So far, 36 idols including Astro’s Eunwoo, Victon’s Seungsik and Hanse, Ghost9’s Junhyung and Kangsung, Weeekly's Monday, Jihan, Zoa and Soeun, Stray Kids' Changbin have tested positive in March alone.
With the Omicron wave still not being considered lethal, it has created havoc as it’s infecting K-pop idols who have to continue with their schedules in crowded places. In fact, just last week Astro’s Moonbin and Sanha tested positive right before their first comeback. Before them, Victon’s Sejun was quarantined in Thailand after he contracted Covid-19 during an overseas group schedule.
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Eunwoo tests positive
On March 18, it was reported that after leader JinJin, Moonbin and Sanha, Eunwoo was the next Astro member to fall sick. The idol actor was diagnosed with Covid-19 after he took a precautionary test since he was not feeling well. Eunwoo doesn’t have any symptoms other than a mild cold. His schedule has been suspended for the moment and will be updated when he is released from quarantine.
6 IST artists get Covid-19
At the same time, IST Entertainment shared that Victon’s Seungsik and Hanse had tested positive with a self-test kit on March 17. They took a PCR test immediately which came back positive on March 18. They are in quarantine and hence the group's fan-sign event for March 20 has been postponed to a later date. However, they hope to continue with the Korea Brand Expo in Dubai on March 26 as they expect to recover by then.
Before Victon, IST Entertainment also had reported that on March 17, their girl group Weeekly’s Monday, Jihan, and Zoa had tested positive. Previously, Soeun had tested positive on March 16. The rest of the members and staff too were tested but are negative at the moment. The members have halted their activities and are currently being treated. This is the second time that Zoa has tested positive following her diagnosis in November 2021. Weeekly were promoting their first single album ‘Play Game: Awake’ but the events have been halted at the moment since four out of seven members are in quarantine.
Ghost9's Junhyung and Kangsung fall sick
On March 18, Ghost9’s Junhyung has become the second member to be diagnosed with Covid-19 following Kangsung who had tested positive hours earlier. Kangsung had fallen sick on March 17 after he displayed cold symptoms. Junhyung had tested negative on that day but he tested positive after showing similar symptoms later in the evening. Both Ghost9 members have taken three vaccine shots and are being treated at home.
Changbin gets Covid-19 on the day of Stray Kids' comeback
Stray Kids' Changbin has become the latest idol to test positive on March 18. It also happens to be the day of the group's comeback. He has halted all of his schedules and is currently in quarantine. Since comeback preparations require the members to practice together, fans are also afraid for the other Stray Kids members. They will continue their schedules but keep monitoring their health and staying in separate spaces.