[Summary] Consecutive COVID-19 Cases Confirmed at Korea University Anam, Seoul National University, Soonchunhyang University... Major Hospital Outbreaks in Seoul Raise Alarm

Godae Anam Hospital Nurse and Seoul National University Hospital Professor Confirmed COVID-19 Positive
171 Confirmed Cases Related to Soonchunhyang Hospital

On the morning of the 18th, citizens are waiting for COVID-19 testing at the temporary screening clinic of Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital in Yongsan-gu. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-eun] As COVID-19 cases continue to be confirmed among medical staff and patients at major general hospitals in Seoul, including one professor at Seoul National University Hospital, one nurse at Korea University Anam Hospital, and patients at Soonchunhyang University Hospital, concerns over cluster infections originating from general hospitals are growing.

On the 18th, Seoul City announced that a nurse at Korea University Anam Hospital in Seongbuk-gu tested positive for COVID-19. After the confirmed case was identified at this hospital, the city tested about 100 contacts, and so far, no additional confirmed cases have been reported aside from the initial patient.

On the same day, a professor in the Department of Pediatric Anesthesia and Pain Medicine at Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu also tested positive for COVID-19. It is known that the professor participated in surgeries until just before the positive diagnosis, raising further concerns. No additional confirmed cases have occurred to date, and a total of 31 people, including 26 staff members and 5 patients, have been classified as close contacts and tested.

At Soonchunhyang University Hospital in Yongsan-gu, after two inpatients were initially confirmed positive on the 12th, the total number of related confirmed cases has increased to 171. Among these confirmed cases, 147 patients are registered as confirmed cases in Seoul City, and health authorities have conducted tests on a total of 3,489 people, including hospital staff and contacts.

The city has placed Soonchunhyang University Hospital under cohort isolation and relocated patients, while conducting follow-up testing and monitoring of contacts. Additionally, follow-up testing and monitoring are ongoing for staff, patients, and caregivers who had contact with confirmed cases. Environmental specimen tests were conducted 37 times on the floors where confirmed cases occurred, with the virus detected in 16 of those samples.

Furthermore, at Hanyang University Hospital in Seongdong-gu, where a patient's caregiver tested positive for COVID-19 at the end of last month, the spread of infection continues. As of midnight on the 18th, one additional confirmed case was reported, bringing the total related confirmed cases to 98.

The temporary screening clinic at Seoul Station on the morning of the 18th. Photo by Yonhap News

In the case of large general hospitals, where many severe patients are admitted and the number of medical staff and visitors is high, cluster infections could lead to large-scale outbreaks, causing significant impact. Health authorities are promoting special quarantine management targeting general hospital-level medical institutions and have repeatedly urged compliance with quarantine rules.

Park Yumi, Director of the Seoul City Citizen Health Bureau, emphasized at a COVID-19 briefing held at City Hall on the 18th, "Due to the frequent hospital-origin cluster infections, it is essential to strictly follow quarantine rules within hospitals, such as wearing masks, restricting visitors, and implementing caregiver registration systems."

She added, "Medical institutions are requested to actively issue test referral forms when suspected COVID-19 patients or patients with respiratory symptoms visit, so they can be promptly tested at screening clinics without additional procedures."

Meanwhile, according to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, as of midnight on the 18th, 621 new COVID-19 cases were reported domestically. Of these, 590 were local cases and 31 were imported, maintaining the 600-level daily new cases for two consecutive days following the previous day (the 17th).