40s Found Dead at Home in Gyeongju, Tested Positive for COVID-19... Third Death Reported

A man in his 40s found dead at his home in Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk tested positive for COVID-19. Photo by Joo Cheol-in

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Ju Cheol-in] A man in his 40s found dead at his home in Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk, was confirmed to have tested positive for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), causing shock.

According to Gyeongju City and Gyeongju Police on the 22nd, the deceased, Mr. Oh (40), was reported to the police by an acquaintance who found him dead at his home the previous afternoon. The acquaintance stated during the police investigation, "Despite having a night shift, he did not go to work and was unreachable, so I went to his house and found him dead."

The deceased Mr. Oh lived in a one-room apartment in Sirae-dong near Bulguksa Temple. He had been taking medication for hypertension and was prescribed chronic cough medicine at O-dong Gyeongbuk Clinic on the 12th, followed by bronchitis medicine prescribed again on the 14th.

Mr. Oh worked overtime from 4 p.m. on the 20th until 1 a.m. on the 21st and did not go to work that afternoon. When contact was lost at 8:52 p.m. on the 21st, an acquaintance visited his home, found Mr. Oh deceased, and reported it to the police.

At around 1:10 a.m. on the 22nd, he was transported to Dongguk University Gyeongju Hospital, where health center officials collected foreign substances found in Mr. Oh’s mouth and conducted a COVID-19 test. At 2:30 p.m. that day, they received confirmation of COVID-19 from the Gyeongbuk Institute of Health and Environment.

Gyeongju City has currently closed the Gyeongbuk Clinic and quarantined one doctor and family members. Additionally, five people, including four contacts, disinfection and transport personnel, and funeral home staff, have been quarantined. Gyeongbuk Province and Gyeongju City are identifying contacts based on workplace relations.