Samsung Electronics has shut down its mobile device factory in Gumi, South Korea after a confirmed coronavirus case was reported at its complex. According to reports, Samsung Electronics is shutting down the floor where the infected employee had worked until the morning of 25th February 2020.
The affected employee is said to be a member of the wireless division which is in charge of smartphone production. Samsung’s COVID-19 task force has informed all employees that they are shutting the Gumi plant for two days and have urged all staff to use face masks when they return back to work. Those that have come in contact with the infected employee are placed in self-quarantine and Samsung has taken steps to have them tested for possible infection.
The impact of smartphone product is expected to be minimal as Samsung Galaxy devices are mostly produced in Vietnam and India. The South Korean facility is said to account for a small portion of devices which include premium products such as foldable smartphones and devices for the domestic market.
The temporary shutdown is unlikely to affect the Galaxy S20 and Galaxy A series. However, it may cause an impact on the production of foldable devices such as the Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Fold.
There has been a spike of coronavirus cases in South Korea in the past few days. Gumi is close to the city of Daegu where a church is said to be the centre of South Korea’s largest coronavirus outbreak.
According to the latest figures by Malaysia’s Ministry of Health, South Korea has 433 confirmed cases with a total of 3 deaths. This is followed by Japan with 122 cases and 1 death, and Singapore with 85 confirmed cases and zero deaths.
At the moment, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Malaysia remains unchanged at 22 cases and there have been no deaths reported so far.
