New Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye arrives at Dongbu Detention Center in Songpa-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 28th to check the quarantine situation related to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) as his first schedule in office. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Four COVID-19 cases have been confirmed at Seoul Dongbu Detention Center, prompting an emergency response from correctional authorities.
According to the Ministry of Justice on the 8th, Dongbu Detention Center conducted COVID-19 tests on all inmates and staff the previous day, resulting in three inmates and one staff member testing positive.
The testing was carried out after one inmate was transferred from Dongbu Detention Center to Seoul Detention Center and was confirmed positive. The additional infected inmates are reported to have lived near the initial confirmed case.
The Ministry of Justice isolated the three infected inmates outside the main gate in the 'Family Meeting House,' which is separate from the general inmate housing, and recommended suspension of their sentences. The infected staff member was instructed to self-isolate.
Dongbu Detention Center established a joint on-site response system with the COVID-19 Correctional Facility Emergency Response Team and discussed future mass testing schedules and measures to strengthen quarantine systems with the local public health center's epidemiological investigation team.
Considering the incubation period, authorities plan to conduct three additional rounds of testing for all staff and inmates.
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