[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Jeong Soon-gyun, Mayor of Gangnam District, said on the 19th, "It was fortunate that the number of local infections related to Itaewon clubs, which had caused anxiety and concern among residents, had decreased to fewer than 10 per day. However, over the past two days, four nurses working in the operating rooms at Samsung Seoul Hospital have tested positive for COVID-19, causing surprise and renewed concern among residents, for which I sincerely apologize."
Mayor Jeong stated, "Around 5:30 PM yesterday, upon receiving the report that the first nurse at Samsung Seoul Hospital tested positive, I personally visited Samsung Seoul Hospital last night with the head of the Gangnam District Health Center and other officials to confirm the situation on-site and discuss countermeasures."
He continued, "Gangnam District, in consultation with Seoul City and the hospital, formed an emergency response team on-site to conduct epidemiological investigations, including tracing the movements of confirmed cases. As a first step, 34 medical staff and 15 surgical patients on the 3rd floor operating rooms of the main building were quarantined and urgently tested. This morning, three additional nurses working in the operating rooms were confirmed positive."
Mayor Jeong explained, "As of 5 PM today, 121 people are under self-quarantine, including 25 patients and 88 medical staff. A total of 623 tests have been completed, with 347 negative results and 273 awaiting results."
He added, "The four nurses who tested positive participated in thoracic surgery and obstetrics and gynecology surgeries in operating room C on the 3rd floor of the main building. Among the 25 related surgical patients, nine tested negative, and 16 are still undergoing testing. Among the 88 medical staff, 69 have tested negative, and 19 are awaiting results. Notably, a full screening of 36 medical personnel who worked in operating room C on the 3rd floor was conducted, revealing that except for the three nurses who tested positive today, all 33 others tested negative."
Additionally, eight family members and acquaintances of confirmed cases have been tested, with two confirmed negative and six awaiting results.
Below is the briefing content from Jeong Soon-gyun, Mayor of Gangnam District:
◇ Status of Confirmed Cases
The fourth confirmed nurse, aged 30, at Samsung Seoul Hospital was identified as a resident of Ilwon-dong, Gangnam District, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Gangnam District to 72.
Among the 72 confirmed cases in Gangnam District, 38 are overseas arrivals, and 34 are domestic cases.
◇ Number of Specimen Tests
The number of specimen tests conducted at the Gangnam District Health Center screening clinic is 18,904. Among these, 3,546 tests were related to individuals connected to the Itaewon clubs, and 3,310 people who were released from self-quarantine over the past two weeks have also been tested.
Gangnam District conducted such extensive testing as a proactive response based on the infectious disease control principle of early detection and early containment. Whenever confirmed cases occurred, residents of the same apartment or house, as well as coworkers in the same office, were tested regardless of symptoms. Overseas arrivals were tested twice, before and after self-quarantine.
◇ Status of Self-Quarantine
As of today, 1,212 people are under self-quarantine, including 1,063 overseas arrivals and 149 domestic contacts.
It is expected that the number of self-quarantined individuals will continue to increase until the confirmed cases related to Samsung Seoul Hospital stabilize.
Samsung Seoul Hospital has completely closed all 25 operating rooms on the 3rd floor of the main building, including operating room C where the nurses worked. Starting today, the hospital will not admit new patients for three days and will take additional measures based on the epidemiological investigation results.
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