COVID-19 Spread to Jeju, Entering Pandemic Phase... Positive Cases Confirmed in Post-Testing (Comprehensive)

Central Disease Control Headquarters, COVID-19 Patient Status as of 4 PM on the 20th
53 New Cases Reported in One Day... Total Cumulative Cases Reach 104
Deceased Patient at Daenam Hospital Tested Positive Postmortem... "Cause of Death Under Investigation"

On the afternoon of the 20th, Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo-gun, Gyeongbuk, which was closed due to a confirmed case of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), is under access control.

[Asia Economy Reporters Choi Dae-yeol, Kim Heung-soon] On the 20th, 53 new cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) were confirmed domestically, bringing the total 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. Although not included in the official tally by the Central Disease Control Headquarters on this day, the first COVID-19 case was also reported in Jeju. Among the confirmed cases on this day, one patient was deceased. The cause of death is currently under investigation.

According to the COVID-19 Central Disease Control Headquarters, 22 additional cases were confirmed in the afternoon. Of these, 21 were from the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions, and 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 51 cases confirmed up to the previous day, the total number of patients increased to 104. The number of patients who have fully 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 linked to the 31st patient confirmed on the 18th, one is related to Saeronan Korean Medicine Hospital where the 31st patient was hospitalized, and 13 are connected to Cheongdo Daenam Hospital.

Among these, one deceased patient is included. The Disease Control Headquarters stated, "A male in his 60s (born in 1957) who was hospitalized at Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo, Gyeongbuk, died the previous day. The immediate response team conducted a full investigation of the psychiatric ward on this day and performed COVID-19 diagnostic tests, including on the deceased patient, who tested positive."

This patient had been hospitalized at the hospital for a long period and reportedly died of pneumonia the previous day. This is the first death reported domestically since the outbreak of COVID-19. Excluding China, deaths have been reported in Hong Kong and Iran (2 each), France, Taiwan, the Philippines (1 each), and Japan (3 in total including 2 on a cruise ship), making this the seventh country with reported deaths.

An epidemiological investigation is underway for the additional patient confirmed in Seoul. Excluding the 16 recovered and discharged patients and the one deceased, 87 patients are currently isolated and receiving treatment. As of 4 PM on this day, 11,238 people tested negative and were released from isolation, while 1,860 people are undergoing testing.

A man in his 20s serving in the military in Jeju was also confirmed positive in tests conducted on this day. It is reported that he recently visited his hometown Daegu on leave. After returning, he showed fever symptoms, underwent diagnostic testing, and was confirmed positive. This is the first case in the Jeju area. The Disease Control Headquarters compiles and announces patient numbers daily at 9 AM and 4 PM, and this Jeju case had not been included previously.