Group has returned home from Los Angeles
Three of the seven members of BTS have tested positive for COVID-19 following a return to South Korea after a run of United States tour dates. Bit Hit Entertainment reveals to Reuters that rappers RM and Suga and vocalist Jin were all diagnosed with breakthrough cases of COVID after receiving a completed dose of the coronavirus vaccine in August 2021.
All had been in mandatory quarantine since returning to their homeland earlier this month. Big Hit says RM and Jin initially tested negative upon their return, but RM tested positive as asymptomatic as he was preparing to leave quarantine. Jin tested negative a twice as he left quarantine but was later diagnosed with mild symptoms. Suga had received his diagnosis during a self-quarantine at home.
None of the three had any contact with any of the other members upon returning to South Korea.
Big Hit has confirmed that each of the members had “a number of personal engagements in the United States” following their first in-person concerts in Los Angeles since the pandemic began.
The K-pop superstars are currently on an extended hiatus while they prepare their new album and set of concerts. The new album that is described as marking a “new chapter” of the band’s history.
The group has had a monstrous year by topping the Billboard Hot 100 for ten weeks with “Butter,” a global mega-hit dubbed 2021’s song of the summer. The song also earned BTS “Artist of the Year” award at the 2021 American Music Awards. In addition, the septet received their second “Best Pop Duo/Group Performance” Grammy nomination with the track. They also released a version with Megan Thee Stallion.
