[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] The number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in South Korea has increased by 5. All of these new patients are related to the 31st confirmed patient (born in 1959, Korean female) who was diagnosed in Daegu Metropolitan City the previous day. The total number of confirmed cases has reached 51.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters announced on the 19th at 4 p.m. that 5 additional confirmed cases had been identified domestically. This update includes cases reported between 9 a.m. and the afternoon of the same day. The cumulative number of confirmed cases rose from 46 in the morning to 51.
The health authorities stated, "All 5 newly confirmed patients have been confirmed so far to be related to patient number 31." These 5 individuals are connected to the Shincheonji Daegu Church, which patient 31 visited twice after symptoms appeared on the 7th.
Patient 31 tested positive for COVID-19 on the 17th and, before being isolated, moved between the Shincheonji Daegu Church, a hotel, and medical institutions in the area. To date, a total of 15 people who had contact with this patient have been confirmed positive. Among those who were at the Shincheonji Daegu Church, 14 were infected, and one person who was a contact at Saeronan Korean Medicine Hospital in Beomeo-dong, Daegu, where a contact accident occurred and hospitalization took place, was also confirmed positive.
Following the 15 confirmed cases reported in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions in the morning, an additional 20 patients were confirmed throughout the day, including the afternoon update. Epidemiological investigations are ongoing for Shincheonji Daegu Church members, the hotel, and Saeronan Korean Medicine Hospital, so the number of confirmed cases may increase.
As of the afternoon of the same day, there were 11,122 suspected patients who had traveled to China or countries with COVID-19 outbreaks and exhibited symptoms such as cough and fever. This is an increase of 757 from 10,365 at 9 a.m. Among them, 9,973 tested negative, and 1,149 are still undergoing testing.
Meanwhile, among previously confirmed patients, four individuals (numbers 6, 10, 16, and 18) were released from isolation as their symptoms improved. COVID-19 patients are released from isolation after 48 hours have passed since symptoms disappear and two consecutive real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests conducted 24 hours apart return negative results. This constitutes a recovery determination for the infectious disease. Additionally, the attending medical staff make the final decision on discharge considering the patient's underlying conditions and sequelae. The total number of patients released from isolation has now increased to 16.
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