[Asia Economy Reporter Yuri Kim] A colleague doctor has also been confirmed infected at a hospital in Wakayama Prefecture where a doctor in his 50s diagnosed with the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) was working in Japan.
According to foreign media such as Japan's NHK and Kyodo News, a male doctor in his 50s at Saiseikai Arita Hospital in Wakayama Prefecture was additionally infected with COVID-19.
At this hospital, infections of a male doctor in his 50s on the 13th and a male patient in his 70s who was temporarily hospitalized after an internal medicine examination on the 14th and then transferred to another hospital were confirmed respectively. It is known that this doctor had been working continuously while taking antipyretics despite showing fever symptoms since the 31st of last month.
Wakayama Prefecture is hastening to identify the infection route. They are investigating the extent of contact between the two confirmed doctors and have started testing doctors and nurses working at the same hospital.
The hospital has suspended outpatient services. They urged patients and their families who used the hospital and have symptoms such as coughing to use the newly established contact outpatient clinic.
NHK reported that although infections are spreading, there are cases where the infection route is currently unknown, and (health authorities) are conducting investigations into the behavior of infected persons before the onset of symptoms.
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