[Summary] 19th Confirmed Case Resides in Songpa-gu, Seoul... Nearby Elementary School Temporarily Closed

19th Confirmed Case, Resident of Songpa-gu... What Are the Movement Routes?
Attended Singapore Conference with Patient 17

On the afternoon of the 5th, people who stayed at the same hospital as COVID-19 confirmed cases number 16 and 18 entered the temporary quarantine facility set up at the dormitory of Gwangju Gwangsan-gu Gwangju Fire Academy.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] The 19th confirmed case of the novel coronavirus (36-year-old male, Korean) has been confirmed to reside in Songpa-gu, Seoul, raising concerns about community transmission. The 19th confirmed patient was isolated at Seoul Medical Center in Jungnang-gu, Seoul, around 8:20 PM on the 5th. The elementary school near the residence of the 19th confirmed patient has temporarily closed.

According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this patient visited Singapore from the 18th to the 23rd of last month to attend the same conference as the 17th patient, who was announced on the morning of the 5th. The two colleagues reportedly had a meal with another colleague from Malaysia on the 22nd of last month.

The patient was notified of the Malaysian colleague’s confirmed case on the 3rd and contacted the responsible public health center, entering self-quarantine from the 4th.

He tested positive in the examination conducted after the 17th patient was confirmed on the morning of the 5th. Health authorities are conducting an epidemiological investigation on this patient and will disclose additional information as it becomes available.

On the morning of the 5th, medical staff wearing protective suits are entering and exiting the isolation room for patients number 16 and 18 infected with the novel coronavirus at Jeonnam National University Hospital in Dong-gu, Gwangju.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

◆ Large Apartment Complex of '10,000 Households' in the Patient’s Residential Area... Is the Infection Risk Increasing?

Meanwhile, according to Seoul City and Songpa-gu, the 19th confirmed novel coronavirus patient is known to reside in Songpa-gu. Songpa-gu has begun identifying the patient’s movement routes and contacts.

Also, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, four nearby elementary schools have been ordered to close temporarily.

The schools located around the Helio City apartment complex, where the confirmed patient is known to reside, notified parents by text message today (the 6th) about the temporary closure. The elementary schools temporarily closed are △ Gawon Elementary School △ Garak Elementary School △ Gangmyeong Elementary School △ Haenuri Elementary School.

Songpa Helio City is a large apartment complex that began occupancy in December 2018 and currently houses a total of 9,510 households.

Temporary Closure Notice for Seoul Garak Elementary School.

Meanwhile, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters announced on the 6th that four additional novel coronavirus patients were confirmed, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 23. Among them, the 2nd patient was discharged on the 5th.