Gyeongnam Reports 14 COVID-19 Cases... 8 More Added Overnight

Closure of Korea Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service Changwon Hospital

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kang Woo-kwon] Gyeongnam Province announced at around 10 a.m. on the 23rd that Governor Kim Kyung-soo held an emergency briefing and confirmed 14 cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

On that day, Governor Kim Kyung-soo stated, "By city and county, there are 4 cases in Changwon, 1 in Geoje, 1 in Yangsan, 1 in Goseong, and 1 in Hamyang," adding, "The 7th confirmed case in Gyeongnam is a male born in 1999 residing in Changwon, the 8th is a male born in 1950 residing in Yangsan, the 9th is a female born in 1987 residing in Geoje, the 10th is a female born in 2000 residing in Changwon, the 11th is a male born in 1994 residing in Daegu (tested at Hamyang County Public Health Center), the 12th is a male born in 1971 residing in Changwon, the 13th is a female born in 1943 residing in Goseong, and the 14th is a male born in 1988 residing in Changwon."

Governor Kim continued, "The 7th confirmed case is the son of the 5th confirmed case, a nurse at Changwon Hanmaeum Hospital identified on the 22nd. The 8th confirmed case was transferred along with the 7th to the negative pressure ward at Yangsan Busan National University Hospital. The 9th, 10th, and 11th cases are hospitalized in the negative pressure ward at Masan Medical Center, the 12th confirmed case is admitted to the negative pressure ward at Changwon Gyeongsang National University Hospital, the 13th is isolated in the negative pressure ward at Jinju Gyeongsang National University Hospital, and the 14th confirmed case is a member of the Shincheonji Daegu Church and was under self-quarantine as a contact of the 31st confirmed case nationwide," he explained.

Additionally, Governor Kim said, "It was confirmed that the 7th confirmed case received medical treatment at the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service Changwon Hospital on the 19th, and the Changwon Hospital has been temporarily closed. The 12th confirmed case is a doctor at Hanmaeum Changwon Hospital, and considering the possibility of hospital-acquired infection spreading, the hospital will remain closed. The Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service Changwon Hospital has also been closed," he stated.

Furthermore, Governor Kim expressed, "We apologize to the residents as the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases is increasing, and we ask that visits to Daegu and Cheongdo be refrained from until this situation is resolved," urging, "Please postpone religious gatherings or any assemblies where many people gather."

Along with this, Governor Kim said, "The elementary school opening scheduled for March 2 will be decided in consultation with the Office of Education, and both the medical field and health authorities have heightened their workload and tension," adding, "We have experience overcoming MERS. We will concentrate all administrative power to minimize infection transmission and spread."

Currently, there are 177 individuals in Gyeongnam awaiting COVID-19 infection testing.