Medical Facility in Pyeongtaek Visited by Wuhan Pneumonia Patient No. 4 Closed for Investigation

Amid the occurrence of the fourth confirmed case of the novel coronavirus infection known as 'Wuhan pneumonia' in South Korea, visitors wearing masks are seen at Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul on the afternoon of the 27th.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) announced on the 27th that the fourth confirmed patient of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) resided in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, and visited medical institutions within Pyeongtaek before being quarantined.

According to the KCDC, this patient is a 55-year-old Korean male who was in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, and returned to Korea on the 20th. He reportedly visited Wuhan for tourism purposes on the 5th of this month. After returning, he visited a medical institution near his residence in Pyeongtaek on the 21st, the day after his return, due to cold symptoms, according to the KCDC investigation. It was reported that he did not have respiratory symptoms at the time of entry.

After about four days, on the 25th, he again visited the same medical institution with a high fever of 38 degrees Celsius and muscle pain. The medical institution reported to the public health center, which conducted active monitoring. On the following day, the 26th, his muscle pain worsened, and he was diagnosed with pneumonia at the public health center’s screening clinic, classifying him as a suspected symptomatic case. On that day, he was isolated at Bundang Seoul National University Hospital, a nationally designated inpatient treatment facility, and underwent testing for the novel coronavirus, which confirmed the final diagnosis.

The KCDC stated that investigators are currently on site conducting detailed investigations into contacts and the patient’s movement paths, but the name of the medical institution has not yet been disclosed. On local community internet cafes, a specific clinic-level medical institution is being mentioned. The clinic has not responded to contact attempts.

Jung Eun-kyung, director of the KCDC, said, "The confirmation was made around 8 a.m. today, and the medical institution is currently closed while epidemiological investigators are conducting on-site investigations," adding, "We will further investigate and announce details such as whether the patient wore a mask and the specific exposure range."