121 Cases Emerge in Two Days at Changwon Hospital... Suspected Cluster Breakthrough Infections Among Psychiatric Ward Patients and Staff

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Sang-hyun] In a psychiatric ward of a hospital in Changwon-si, Gyeongnam, 121 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed over two days.

The hospital conducted a proactive test for high-risk facilities on the 27th, and after 3 people tested positive on the 28th, including 1 hospital staff member and 2 patients, additional testing was carried out. On the 29th, 118 more cases were confirmed, including 8 staff members and 110 patients.

Among the total 121 confirmed cases, 112 are patients and 9 are staff members.

According to Changwon City on the 29th, the first confirmed case in this hospital was reported on the 28th. The confirmed cases had completed their second dose of vaccination as part of the priority vaccination for high-risk groups around May to June.

Health authorities therefore consider all confirmed cases to be breakthrough infections.

The city has implemented cohort isolation measures for the ward starting from the 28th.

A city official stated, "Although some of the confirmed cases are staff members who commute to and from work, they undergo regular diagnostic testing," and added, "Since most of the confirmed cases are inpatients, the possibility of community transmission is considered low."