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After UP10TION's Bitto, Kogyeol tests positive for Covid-19, Stray Kids and CNBLUE members test negative

Other UP10TION members Kuhn, Gyujin, Hwanhee, Sunyoul and Xiao have tested negative

UP10TION member Kogyeol tested positive for Covid-19 after another member Bitto who was found infected earlier this week. The group shared the SBS Inkigayo stage with a number of other K-pop groups, including Stray Kids who have all tested negative, a Korean media report stated.

Kogyeol testing positive has sparked concerns regarding the group’s overall health situation while fans also flooded social media with warm get-well-soon messages for both the members. UP10TION’s agency TOP Media has issued a statement after the second member tested positive asserting to the fans and well-wishers that all the other members have tested negative and they are taking precautionary measures by asking all the staff to quarantine.

The report read, “On November 30, after UP10TION’s Bitto tested positive for COVID-19, anyone with any possibility of contact, including all UP10TION members and the company’s employees and staff, were tested for COVID-19. Our agency’s artists who did not cross paths [with Bitto] or were not in direct contact were also tested in the case of secondary contact. On December 1, the test results revealed that of the UP10TION member Kogyeol tested positive while Kuhn, Gyujin, Hwanhee, Sunyoul, and Xiao tested negative. Although they tested negative, the UP10TION members and their manager will self-quarantine for two weeks as they were in close contact.”

The statement said, “UP10TION’s stylists and hair and makeup artists all tested negative, and the agency’s employees, staff, and other artists besides UP10TION have all tested negative. However, there are two staff members whose test results have not come out yet. If we find any problems with the results, we will take follow-up measures and begin additional contact tracing. As UP10TION’s Kogyeol has tested positive, he will follow the instructions of health authorities. The agency will look into the members’ paths once more and check for any other staff members with potential risk of infection.”

A fan posted, “Kogyeol are tested positive too this morning, everyone let's pray for he n Bitto speed recovery with less pain n let's keep hoping that everyone including staff, employees and TOP artists are stay safe. Everyone please always follow the social distancing n wear ur masks”, another shared, "omg praying for bitto and kogyeol's fast recovery. please take care of your artists, monitor them always especially the two while they are battling with this virus.”

Meanwhile, most other groups who shared the stage with UP10TION in SBS Inkigayo tested negative as they shared on social media. JYP Entertainment confirmed that Stray Kids have tested negative. South Korea’s pop-rock band CNBLUE’s Jung Yong Hwa posted on Twitter, “The result is negative, everyone. I’m sorry for worrying you! I hope other colleagues and staff are all okay!” Musical duo Norazo’s Won Heum also posted on Instagram that 13 people in their team had undergone tests and received negative results, including himself, another Norazo member Jo Bin, their manager, stylist, their dance crew, hair team, and make-up team.