On the 26th, Heo Tae-jung, Mayor of Daejeon, is briefing on the status of COVID-19 confirmed cases. Photo by Daejeon City
[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in the Daejeon and Chungnam regions increased to 9 each as of 10:30 a.m. on the 27th.
According to Daejeon City, on this day, one elderly person in their 70s (resident of Gongju, Chungnam) who was transferred from Gongju Medical Center in Chungnam to Eulji University Hospital in Daejeon for treatment, and two colleagues (men in their 30s) of a researcher at the Korea Forest Research Institute who were confirmed positive on the previous day (26th) were added to the list of COVID-19 confirmed cases in Daejeon.
The confirmed patient in their 70s had been hospitalized at a general hospital in Dunsan-dong since December 1 last year for pneumonia treatment and was discharged on January 19. They had scheduled a follow-up visit on February 25 and visited the general hospital in Dunsan-dong on the reserved date, where they were finally confirmed positive. Currently, they are hospitalized and receiving treatment in a negative pressure isolation room prepared at the same hospital.
The two confirmed patients in their 30s were tested at screening clinics (Seo-gu Public Health Center, Konyang University Hospital) and, while under self-quarantine, were confirmed positive late in the afternoon on the 26th. All are hospitalized and receiving treatment in negative pressure isolation rooms at Chungnam National University Hospital.
It has been identified that these confirmed patients visited large supermarkets, gas stations, buffet restaurants, pharmacies, hospitals, and other places located in Dunsan-dong before visiting the screening clinics.
Previously, three people in Daejeon were confirmed positive for COVID-19 on the previous day: a nurse (female, 40) working at Seongse Hospital, a researcher (male, 33) working at the Korea Forest Research Institute, and a station worker (female, 39) working at Wolpyeong Station on Metro Line 1. This means that a total of six confirmed cases have increased in Daejeon over two days. Including the confirmed cases on the 26th and 27th, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Daejeon area is nine.
On the 27th, two more confirmed cases were added in Chungnam as well. The confirmed patients were identified as A (female, 46) and B (female, 28), both residents of Cheonan.
Ms. A was tested at a screening clinic (Seobuk-gu Public Health Center, Cheonan) around 10 a.m. the previous day and was under self-quarantine when she was finally confirmed positive at around 6:10 p.m. the same day. Ms. A’s initial symptoms began on the 22nd, with main symptoms being fever and throat itchiness.
Ms. B was tested at a screening clinic (Soonchunhyang University Hospital) around 10 a.m. on the 25th and was under self-quarantine when she was finally confirmed positive at around 6:50 p.m. on the 26th. Ms. B reportedly experienced symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, and muscle pain starting from the 23rd.
Earlier in Chungnam, on the 25th, three additional confirmed cases were reported simultaneously in Cheonan: C (female, 47), D (female in her 50s), and E (female in her 40s). They all underwent testing at screening clinics between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on the 24th due to symptoms such as fever and were under self-quarantine during the testing period (from the 24th until confirmation before the 25th).
With the increase in confirmed cases over two days, local governments are becoming more active. Daejeon City, Chungnam Province, and Cheonan City are hospitalizing confirmed COVID-19 patients in infectious disease management institutions (negative pressure isolation beds) for treatment, while conducting in-depth epidemiological investigations into each confirmed patient’s movement paths and contacts.
Heo Tae-jung, Mayor of Daejeon, said, “Following the confirmation of three COVID-19 cases yesterday morning, three more cases were added today,” and added, “In light of the additional confirmed cases, we urge citizens to refrain from attending gatherings or events involving groups unless absolutely necessary.”
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