Park Geun-hye, Close Contact with COVID-19 Positive Staff at Seoul Detention Center... PCR Test Scheduled for This Morning

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] It has been confirmed that former President Park Geun-hye, who is incarcerated at Seoul Detention Center, had close contact with an employee who tested positive for COVID-19.

According to the Ministry of Justice on the 20th, former President Park shared the same transport vehicle with the COVID-19 positive employee during her transfer for outpatient treatment at an external medical facility on the 18th, resulting in close contact.

The employee in question had tested negative in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test conducted on the 12th but was confirmed positive during a mass testing conducted between the 18th and 19th.

The Ministry of Justice plans to conduct a PCR test on former President Park this morning.

If the test result is positive, she will be hospitalized and treated at a dedicated hospital equipped with a negative pressure room in consultation with medical staff and quarantine authorities. If negative, she will be admitted to an external hospital for preventive isolation for a certain period.

The Ministry of Justice stated, "We will concentrate all our efforts to prevent the introduction and spread of COVID-19 and to provide the best medical care for former President Park."

Meanwhile, two additional employees at Seoul Detention Center tested positive, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases in correctional facilities nationwide to 1,261 as of this morning.

The Ministry of Justice plans to conduct the 11th mass testing today for about 1,000 inmates and staff at Dongbu Detention Center.