'Serial Infection' in Uiseong-gun, Gyeongbuk: 17 COVID-19 Cases Reversed from Positive to Negative

Uiseong-gun Reports Continuous COVID-19 Cases Starting from February 16 After Lunar New Year Holiday
Among 83 Cases in 11 Days, 17 Are False Positives and 1 Underwent Retesting

On the afternoon of the 26th, medical staff at the Yeongnam Regional Prevention Center for COVID-19 at Pusan National University Hospital in Yangsan, Gyeongnam, are moving Pfizer vaccines into a freezer. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Dong-wook] Recently, in Uiseong-gun, Gyeongbuk, which has been suffering from the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), 17 confirmed cases were found to be 'false positives' after being reclassified as negative.

According to Gyeongbuk Province on the 27th, out of 22 people classified as confirmed cases in Uiseong-gun on the 24th, 17 tested negative in retests. Another one is currently awaiting detailed examination.

Health authorities reportedly recognized belatedly that a significant number of confirmed cases who tested positive at the Bongyang-myeon screening clinic had no infection links or had minimal virus detection levels, prompting retesting.

The authorities believe there were several variables, including the possibility of contamination during specimen collection or disinfection processes, as well as some confirmed cases possibly being in the process of recovery.

On the 26th, Uiseong-gun, after consulting with the Disease Control Headquarters Gyeongbuk Disease Response Center and experts from Gyeongbuk Province, ruled 17 suspected patients as false positives and immediately discharged them from confirmed patient treatment facilities. Additionally, all 42 people classified as contacts of the 17 and under self-quarantine were released from isolation.

Among the 17 who tested negative, three who were transferred to other regions were notified accordingly, while the 14 residents with addresses in Uiseong were instructed to self-quarantine for two weeks after discharge.

In Uiseong, since the day after the Lunar New Year holiday on the 16th, confirmed cases have occurred every day without fail, totaling 65 confirmed cases over 11 days until the 26th (excluding 17 false positives and 1 retest).

A Gyeongbuk Province official stated, "Residents who were reclassified as negative stayed in the hospital for about a day but were isolated from confirmed patients," adding, "We plan to thoroughly enforce quarantine measures such as self-isolation."

Meanwhile, on the 9th of last month, some of the confirmed cases notified as positive at the Nam-gu Health Center screening clinic in Daegu were confirmed as 'false positives' (negative individuals judged as positive). Also, in July last year, there was confusion when two negative cases were announced as positive.