On the morning of the 20th, the emergency room of Kyungpook National University Hospital in Jung-gu, Daegu, was closed after numerous additional confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) were identified. Photo by Joo Cheol-in
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Jucheol In] The novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is spreading uncontrollably in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions.
According to Daegu City and Gyeongbuk Province on the 20th, 23 new confirmed cases were reported in Daegu and 7 in Gyeongbuk within one day.
With 30 new confirmed cases in this area alone, concerns about a COVID-19 pandemic are being raised.
The quarantine authorities announced that among the 30 additional confirmed cases in Daegu and Gyeongbuk, 23 people had contact with patient number 31 and the Shincheonji Daegu Church.
Among the additional confirmed cases in Daegu, 17 are members of the Shincheonji Church, 2 have a history of traveling to Japan, and 4 are still under investigation.
Also included among the confirmed cases are an art academy teacher in Suseong-gu, Daegu, and a daycare teacher in Dong-gu.
Daegu City closed the art academy and daycare center on the same day, placed all staff under self-quarantine, and notified parents of the confirmed cases.
Of the 34 confirmed patients in Daegu, 15 are currently hospitalized at Daegu Medical Center (10), Kyungpook National University Hospital (2), Keimyung University Hospital (2), and Yeungnam University Hospital (1). The remaining 19 will be distributed and hospitalized at Keimyung University Hospital (2), Chilgok Kyungpook National University Hospital (2), Daegu Catholic University Hospital (2), and Daegu Medical Center (6).
In Gyeongbuk, the number of confirmed cases increased to 9, with 4 in Yeongcheon City, 2 in Cheongdo County, and 1 each in Gyeongsan City and Sangju City.
Meanwhile, a full survey of Shincheonji Daegu Church members who attended worship with patient number 31 revealed that out of about 1,000 people, 90 showed 'symptoms.'
A Daegu City official said, "40% of Shincheonji members, 396 people, have not yet been reached by phone."
The city plans to recommend self-quarantine for the 90 symptomatic believers and conduct tests soon.
As the number of confirmed cases rapidly increases, a shortage of isolation rooms is also occurring.
Daegu City plans to first clear the entire Raphael ward of Daegu Medical Center to secure 88 rooms, and if the spread continues, to clear the entire medical center and use it as isolation beds for COVID-19 confirmed patients.
Daegu City and Gyeongbuk Province recognize the increasing trend of confirmed cases as a disaster level that cannot be controlled by local governments alone and plan to request active intervention and support from the central government.
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