[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] The Seoul Eastern Detention Center, where a cluster infection of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) occurred, has entered the procedure for normalizing operations. For the first time in about a month since the initial mass testing began, no additional confirmed cases have been reported.
According to the Ministry of Justice on the 23rd, as of 8 a.m. that day, there were no additional confirmed cases within the Eastern Detention Center. However, the 12th mass testing is ongoing, targeting approximately 500 staff members and 500 inmates. Currently, the total number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in correctional facilities nationwide is 1,261, including 626 in isolation, 491 released from isolation, and 144 released from custody.
The Eastern Detention Center began mass testing on the 18th of last month. Additional confirmed cases were reported in every round of testing so far: 1st round - 184 cases, 2nd round - 297 cases, 3rd round - 260 cases, 4th round - 152 cases, 5th round - 127 cases, 6th round - 70 cases, 7th round - 12 cases, 8th round - 7 cases, 9th round - 2 cases, and 10th round - 1 case, showing a steady decrease in confirmed cases.
The Ministry of Justice decided to proceed with the 12th mass testing as a preventive measure, even though no additional confirmed cases were found in the 11th round. The policy is to continue mass testing until no further confirmed cases emerge.
In line with this, preparations for procedures to normalize operations have also been made. The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) announced the day before that operations would be normalized if no additional confirmed cases occur two weeks after the last confirmed case at the Eastern Detention Center.
Once operations are normalized, the kitchen will resume normal operation, and inmates' exercise, bathing, and lawyer visits will recommence. Judicial schedules such as trials may also return to normal in consultation with the courts.
Meanwhile, to prevent further spread of infection at the Eastern Detention Center, the Ministry of Justice relocated 940 inmates to six correctional facilities to reduce density. Within the detention center, confirmed cases, close contacts, and those confirmed negative were housed separately in different buildings to prevent infection risks and provide treatment to confirmed cases.
Additionally, the Ministry of Justice, together with the Central Disease Control Headquarters, plans to inspect 14 correctional facilities by the 14th of next month and educate correctional facility infection control managers on quarantine guidelines using the Eastern Detention Center case as an example.
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