[Asia Economy reporters Choi Dae-yeol and Kim Heung-soon] 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 Korea on the 20th of last month, and more than half of the total cases were added in just one day. Among the confirmed patients, one death was also reported. The cause of death is currently under investigation. Although not included in the official tally by the Central Disease Control Headquarters on this day, COVID-19 patients were also reported for the first time in Jeju and Jeonju, indicating signs of a nationwide epidemic.
According to the COVID-19 Central Disease Control Headquarters, 22 additional cases were confirmed in the afternoon. Among them, 21 were from the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions, and one was confirmed in Seoul. Earlier, as of 9 a.m., 31 cases had been confirmed, making a total of 53 confirmed cases in one day. Adding the 51 cases reported until 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.
Massive Confirmed Cases in Daegu and Gyeongbuk Linked to Shincheonji Church Members
First Death Among Confirmed Cases at Cheongdo Daenam Hospital
Postmortem Test Positive... Health Authorities "Investigating Cause of Death"
Among the 21 newly confirmed cases in Daegu and Gyeongbuk, five are related to the Shincheonji Daegu Church case linked to the 31st confirmed patient identified on the 18th, and one is related to Saeronan Korean Medicine Hospital where the 31st patient was hospitalized. Thirteen patients are related to Cheongdo Daenam Hospital.
Among them, one death was included. The Disease Control Headquarters stated, "A man in his 60s (born in 1957) who was hospitalized at Cheongdo Daenam Hospital in Gyeongbuk died the previous day," adding, "The immediate response team conducted a full investigation of the psychiatric ward on the day and performed COVID-19 diagnostic tests, including on the deceased, which came back positive."
This is the first death reported in Korea 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 the cruise ship), making this the seventh country with reported deaths.
The patient was reported to have been hospitalized at the hospital for a long period. Health authorities said, "We will analyze the deceased’s medical records and imaging data, and after review by clinical experts, determine the cause of death and its relation to COVID-19." Currently, the cause of death is listed as pneumonia.
Daegu Nam-gu Office Health Center officials are conducting disinfection work. [Image source=Yonhap News]
First Confirmed Case in Jeju…A Soldier Who Visited Hometown Daegu
One Case Also Reported in Jeonju, Second in Jeonbuk
An epidemiological investigation is underway for the additional patient confirmed in Seoul. Excluding the 16 recovered and discharged patients and 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.
Meanwhile, a man in his 20s serving in the military in Jeju was also confirmed positive in a test on this day. It was 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 confirmed case in the Jeju area. In Jeonju, a 28-year-old man was also confirmed positive. He reportedly traveled around Dongseong-ro and Bukseong-ro areas in Daegu from the 7th to the 9th.
In Jeonbuk, two new COVID-19 cases were reported following the 8th patient who was previously confirmed in Gunsan. The Disease Control Headquarters announces confirmed cases twice daily at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., but the Jeju and Jeonju cases were not included in the tally for this day.
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