104 New COVID-19 Cases Surge... Including 1 Death (Update)

Daenam Hospital, Cheongdo-gun, Gyeongbuk

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] On the 20th, 53 new domestic cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) were confirmed, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 104. It has been about a month since the first case was confirmed in the country on the 20th of last month, and more than half of the total cases were added in just one day. Among the confirmed cases on this day, one death was also included. The cause of death is currently under investigation.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for COVID-19 on this day, 22 additional cases were confirmed in the afternoon. Of these, 21 were from the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions, and the remaining one was confirmed in Seoul. Earlier in the morning, 31 cases were confirmed, making a total of 53 confirmed cases in one day. Adding these to the previous total of 51 cases, the total number of patients increased to 104. The number of patients who have recovered and been released from isolation or discharged remains at 16, unchanged from the previous day.

Among the 21 newly confirmed cases in Daegu and Gyeongbuk, five are related to the Shincheonji Daegu Church case associated with the 31st confirmed patient identified on the 18th. One case is related to Saeronan Korean Medicine Hospital, where the 31st patient was hospitalized for treatment. Thirteen cases are linked to Cheongdo Daenam Hospital. Among these, one death was included. This patient had been hospitalized at the hospital for a long period and reportedly died of pneumonia the previous day. A virus diagnostic test conducted after death returned positive. This is the first death since the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country.

The additional case confirmed in Seoul is currently under epidemiological investigation. Excluding the 16 patients who have recovered and been discharged and the one deceased, 87 patients are currently isolated and receiving treatment. As of 4 p.m. on this day, 11,238 people tested negative and were released from isolation, while 1,860 people are undergoing testing.