COVID-19 Deaths Cause Emergency at Cheongdo Daenam Hospital

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo, Gyeongbuk, where a confirmed case of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) died, has gone into emergency as infections continue to surge. About 250 hospital staff and patients are in quarantine, and with the public health center and elderly care facilities densely located in the same building, there are concerns about further spread.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced on the 20th that a confirmed patient in their 60s at Daenam Hospital had died. The cause of death is under investigation. The deceased passed away in the early morning of the 19th due to pneumonia symptoms. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating whether the two confirmed cases at this hospital are related to COVID-19.

At Daenam Hospital, following two confirmed cases on the night of the 19th, thirteen more cases, including the deceased, were confirmed on the same day. This number may increase depending on the test results conducted by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A hospital official said, "Many patients' symptoms are worsening. There have been numerous visitors so far, and now we are anxiously waiting for test results while in quarantine," adding, "We need to take some measures quickly."

Health authorities are conducting epidemiological investigations on all 109 patients and staff at Daenam Hospital, including the deceased patient. There are also 147 patients currently admitted to this hospital.

Health authorities confirmed that patient number 31, the first confirmed case in Daegu and Gyeongbuk, visited Cheongdo earlier this month. They are investigating whether this is related to the outbreak at Daenam Hospital. The two patients confirmed on the 19th were found to have no records of going out or receiving visitors in the past month.

Next to Daenam Hospital are Cheongdo County Public Health Center, Cheongdo County Elderly Nursing Hospital, and Edenwon (nursing home), all connected by corridors. The four facilities have 298 staff members and 302 inpatients. The quarantine authorities have closed these facilities and are conducting comprehensive testing of 600 staff and patients.