Covid in K-pop: EXID's Solji, half of Stray Kids, Verivery, Victon and GHOST9 fall ill
The new Covid-19 strain continues to wreak havoc in K-pop as we have half of Stray Kids, Verivery, Victon and GHOST9 members testing positive. Since the Omicron outbreak was considered non-lethal, idols were made to continue with their scheduled gigs in crowded places. This led to 120 idols getting Covid-19 in February. This number might double if the new South Korean president Moon Jae-in sticks to his words and lifts all social distancing restrictions.
Over 39 idols tested positive alone in the third week of March. In fact, the Covid-19 outbreak has started to hinder important events like birthdays, debuts, comebacks and survival show participation. Blackpink’s Rosé had to sit out of YSL’s Paris Fashion Week show while Tempest, NMIXX, DAY6’s Wonpil and Kep1er had to postpone their debut. And now six out of eight Stray Kids members got Covid-19 right during their album release.
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6 out of 8 Stray Kids members get Covid-19
Stray Kids came back with their sixth K-pop EP ‘ODDINARY’ and had their first music show stage on March 18. Unfortunately, on that day, Changbin became the first member to test positive. Since everyone was in close contact, it was followed with the news of Han, Seungmin, Bang Chan, Lee Know and Hyunjin getting Covid-19. The latest three members tested positive on March 21. They have taken their third vaccine shot and do not have any symptoms.
Verivery's leader the sixth to test positive
Another K-pop group whose comeback activities were affected is Verivery. While they were preparing for their digital single ‘Series 'O' Round 0: Who’ set to be released on March 23, five out of seven members tested positive on March 16. Only members Dongheon and Yongseung had tested negative. Unfortunately, on March 22, it has been reported that leader Dongheon has become the sixth member to get Covid-19. He has taken two vaccine shots and is in quarantine.
EXID's Solji postpones concert
EXID’s Solji has become the next idol to test positive. Her label, C-JeS Entertainment shared that she had been diagnosed with Covid-19 on March 21. She has taken two shots of the vaccine and is being treated at home. Unfortunately, the concert for her first solo album which was set to take place on March 26 and 27 has been postponed. A new date will be issued after she recovers.
Victon and GHOST9 have three positive members each
Byungchan on the other hand is now the third Victon member to test positive. He had taken a mandatory self-test kit which was positive on March 21. He immediately took a PCR test and has been diagnosed with Covid-19. He is not showing any symptoms but is in quarantine. There have been no changes in his schedule at the moment.
We even have Jinwoo becoming the third GHOST9 member to test positive while the group is preparing for their sixth EP for April. Following Kangsung and Junhyung’s diagnosis, Jinwoo showed symptoms on March 19. He took a rapid antigen test which came back positive. He has taken his three doses of the vaccine and only has a cough. His label shared that all of the other members tested negative and are constantly monitoring their health.