[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] The local government has stated that the cluster infection of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that occurred at Daegu Jamieju Hospital and Daesil Nursing Hospital appears to have been caused by an external source of infection.
On the 31st, Daegu City announced at a regular briefing, "We have identified circumstances indicating that a patient who tested positive for COVID-19 had been entering and leaving Daesil Nursing Hospital." The city is currently investigating who this patient came into contact with inside the hospital.
Jamieju Hospital, a psychiatric hospital (floors 8 to 11), shares the same building with Daesil Nursing Hospital (floors 3 to 7). As of midnight on the same day, a total of 228 confirmed cases were reported from both locations. There were 134 cases related to Jamieju Hospital and 94 cases related to Daesil Nursing Hospital.
Some have suggested the possibility of airborne infection through the building's air conditioning system. However, health authorities have made a different assessment. Jeong Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said at a briefing the previous day, "According to Daegu City's investigation, ventilation was insufficient, and the positivity rates among staff and inpatients differ, so it is difficult to consider the infection as airborne." She added, "We believe it is more likely that the virus spread through close contact between patients."
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