'Cohort Isolation at Daenam Hospital Psychiatric Ward Amid Group Outbreak (Update)'

Daenam Hospital, Cheongdo-gun, Gyeongbuk

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The government has decided to implement cohort isolation for patients in the psychiatric ward of Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo, Gyeongbuk, where a cluster of novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) cases occurred. Cohort isolation refers to the concept of completely separating patients infected with the same pathogen from those who are not infected, typically applied when isolation beds or single rooms are insufficient.

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said at a briefing on the 22nd, "Epidemiological investigations revealed that the cases at Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo mainly occurred in the psychiatric ward," adding, "Patients with pneumonia among the confirmed cases are being transferred to other hospitals where treatment is possible for isolated care, and confirmed patients admitted to the psychiatric ward are being cohort isolated at the hospital. Medical personnel shortages are being addressed by deploying staff from the National Center for Mental Health to provide treatment."

According to health authorities, a total of 111 patients have been confirmed at this hospital so far, including nine hospital staff such as nurses. Most of them are patients suffering from mental illnesses. Since the psychiatric ward operated as a closed ward, the authorities believe that many patients were rapidly infected in a short period due to close contact in a confined space.

Jung said, "It was investigated that most psychiatric ward inpatients had fever symptoms around February 15," and added, "It is likely that patients began to appear around that time, and after pneumonia patients were discovered, COVID-19 tests were conducted, leading to recognition of the situation."

Patients remaining in the Daenam Hospital psychiatric ward under cohort isolation have mild symptoms or have not progressed to pneumonia. Considering the characteristics of their illnesses, treatment will be provided by psychiatrists from the National Center for Mental Health and infectious disease specialists.

Jung said, "Since all patients are already positive, the medical staff must prevent progression to severe cases and simultaneously treat existing psychiatric disorders and COVID-19 infection," adding, "Medical staff wear personal protective equipment thoroughly when seeing patients, and measures are being taken to protect medical personnel from infection risks as much as possible."