One Additional COVID-19 Case Confirmed Among Caregivers at Catholic University Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital in Eunpyeong-gu

One Additional Confirmed Case on the 24th...Caregiver of Another Patient in the Same Room as Patient No. 365, Chinese National,

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] On the 24th, one additional confirmed case (male, born in 1954, Chinese) was reported at Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital of Catholic University in Eunpyeong-gu.

This confirmed patient is a caregiver of another patient in the same hospital room at Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital, who was confirmed positive on the 22nd and transferred to Seoul National University Hospital for isolation treatment. The caregiver's nationality is Chinese.

Currently, the patient has been transferred to a government-designated isolation bed.

Eunpyeong-gu, together with the subway corporation, has completed disinfection of the subway in the expected movement areas and plans to frequently disinfect the handrails of the trains. They are making every effort to identify and manage contacts of the patient.

Detailed movement routes will be disclosed once the epidemiological investigation results from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are available.

Furthermore, in response to the escalation of the COVID-19 alert level in Eunpyeong-gu, strong measures are being taken beyond regulations to quickly identify and treat patients, thoroughly isolate and protect them from the outside, thereby preventing the spread to the local community and focusing on treatment.

First, the Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters is operating 24 hours a day, completing disinfection of multi-use facilities and confirmed patients' movement routes, and temporarily closing public facilities.

Also, closure and disinfection measures have been completed for five Shincheonji churches in Eunpyeong-gu. With the new semester start dates for kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high schools postponed by one week (from March 2 to March 9), summer and winter vacations have been adjusted to secure the number of school days. The situation will be closely monitored, and if necessary, additional prompt responses such as further postponement of school openings will be implemented.

Kim Mi-kyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong-gu, requested, “We ask all residents to strictly follow personal prevention rules such as wearing masks, and if you have a fever or respiratory symptoms, please do not go directly to the hospital but contact the Eunpyeong-gu Public Health Center (351-8640~1) or the call center (120/1339). We also ask for your active cooperation to overcome this infectious disease crisis.”