[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Seoul Metropolitan Government temporarily closed the outpatient rehabilitation ward at Severance Hospital in Seodaemun-gu, where a cluster infection of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) occurred, after four additional confirmed cases were reported.
Park Yu-mi, the Quarantine Control Officer of the Seoul Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Director of the Citizen Health Bureau), stated at a briefing on the 22nd, "Since the first confirmed case of a Severance Hospital staff member on the 9th of this month, the total number of related confirmed cases has increased to 52," she said.
At Severance Hospital, two additional confirmed cases were reported on the previous day (21st) among patients and caregivers receiving outpatient treatment at the rehabilitation hospital, and as of 10 a.m. on the same day, two more confirmed cases?one patient and one caregiver?were reported in the rehabilitation hospital ward under cohort isolation.
The quarantine authorities have conducted COVID-19 specimen tests on a total of 2,458 people, including hospital staff, patients, and related contacts.
In addition, due to the occurrence of additional patients, further testing is being conducted on outpatients, caregivers, and related medical staff, while additional contacts are being identified through closed-circuit television (CCTV), and an epidemiological investigation is underway.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
