"Recovered and discharged, then experienced breathing difficulties again" ... Death of an octogenarian reported

On the 12th, as the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) related to Itaewon clubs increases, medical staff are busy moving around at the screening clinic set up at Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Mo Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] A case has occurred in Seoul where a man in his 80s died from another respiratory disease after being declared fully recovered from COVID-19 treatment.

The third death in the Seoul area, announced by the Seoul Metropolitan Government on the 13th, was an 82-year-old man residing in Jongno-gu. He passed away on the 8th of this month but was included in the Seoul city announcement tally for the first time five days later on this day.

This patient was confirmed positive for COVID-19 on February 16 and received treatment in a negative pressure ward. He tested negative on March 13 and was released from isolation. However, he was later admitted to the intensive care unit again due to another illness and died on May 8 from acute respiratory distress syndrome while receiving treatment.

Park Won-soon, Mayor of Seoul, explained at a COVID-19 related briefing that "Even if the deceased was infected with COVID-19 and then fully recovered, if they had no underlying diseases and the cause of death was a respiratory disease weakened by COVID-19, and if this shortened their life, Seoul's principle is to consider it a COVID-19 death."

He added, "I sincerely pray for the deceased's soul and extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved family."