Taxi used 5 times... Stir caused by first confirmed case in Yeongnam region
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seon-ae] As a confirmed case of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has occurred in Daegu, it has been confirmed that the 31st confirmed patient visited hospitals, hotels, and churches for a week even after showing high fever symptoms.
On the 18th, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) announced at a regular briefing held at the Osong Disease Control Headquarters in Chungbuk that a 61-year-old Korean woman with no overseas travel history tested positive for COVID-19. The patient was isolated and admitted to Daegu Medical Center, which has designated inpatient treatment beds.
According to Daegu City and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the 31st patient was involved in a traffic accident on the 6th and was admitted alone to a four-person room on the 6th floor of Saeronan Korean Medicine Hospital in Beomeo-dong, Suseong-gu, Daegu, from the 7th to the 17th.
Ms. A showed symptoms such as sore throat and high fever on the 8th and underwent a flu test, which came back negative. The next day, on the 9th, she attended a two-hour worship service at the Shincheonji Church (Shincheonji Jesus Church Daedeok Sacred Hall) in Nam-gu, Daegu.
However, on the 10th, she still had a fever above 38 degrees Celsius, and when she took another flu test on the 11th, the result was described as an "intermediate stage between negative and positive."
On the 14th, pneumonia was detected through imaging tests at the hospital, and antibiotic treatment was started. On the 15th, a CT scan was performed. When pneumonia symptoms appeared on the CT scan, the hospital recommended that Ms. A get tested for COVID-19 at a public health center.
However, Ms. A refused the test, saying, "I have not met any confirmed patients nor traveled abroad." On the same day, Ms. A had lunch with an acquaintance at Queen Bell Hotel in Dong-gu, Daegu. The next day, on the 16th, she again visited the Shincheonji Church and attended a two-hour worship service.
As her fever continued, the hospital persuaded Ms. A on the following day, the 17th, to visit the Suseong-gu Public Health Center, where she was subsequently confirmed positive for COVID-19. Her current condition is reported to be stable.
Jung Eun-kyung, Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, stated, "Although she had a fever from the 10th, she was receiving hospital treatment mainly for the traffic accident, and the antibiotic treatment was given under the assumption of viral pneumonia other than COVID-19. Since no travel or contact history was identified, it was probably difficult for the hospital to suspect COVID-19."
Meanwhile, it has been investigated that Ms. A used public transportation, including taking taxis five times, and visited local medium-sized hospitals, churches, and hotels, raising concerns about a "super-spreader."
With the first confirmed case emerging in the Yeongnam region, where there had been no previous COVID-19 cases, local residents are on high alert and anxious about the movements of the confirmed patient.
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