'Shinjong Corona' 16th Confirmed Case's 'Infection Route' Mystery... Growing Concerns Over Community Transmission

Patient 16 Shows Chills and Fever After Returning from Thailand
Received Six Medical Consultations at Two Hospitals but Isolated After Ten Days... Concerns Over Community Transmission

A hospital in downtown Gwangju, which the 16th confirmed patient of the novel coronavirus infection in Korea visited, temporarily closed on the 4th. The photo shows an outpatient checking the closure notice.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Questions are growing about the infection route of the 16th confirmed case of the novel coronavirus (Wuhan pneumonia). Although symptoms suspected of the novel coronavirus appeared on the 25th of last month, the patient was quarantined only after ten days.

As a result, concerns are increasing not only about the possibility of community transmission of the novel coronavirus but also about whom the patient met and whether there are any close contacts. The family of the 16th confirmed patient is currently under self-quarantine.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, Gwangju City, and Gwangju Gwangsan District Office on the 4th, the 16th patient, a Korean woman named A (42), was confirmed to have the novel coronavirus on that day.

◆ 16th confirmed patient received six medical consultations over ten days at two hospitals

Living in Gwangsan District, Gwangju, Ms. A traveled to Bangkok and Pattaya, Thailand, with her family of five from the 15th of last month and returned to Korea on the 19th.

Thailand, which Ms. A visited, is known to have the highest number of novel coronavirus cases outside of China and Japan (including 20 asymptomatic patients). As of the previous day (the 4th), Thailand had 19 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus.

After finishing her trip to Thailand and entering Korea, Ms. A showed chills and a fever of 38.9 degrees Celsius starting the evening of the 25th of last month.

Screening clinics are being further expanded by local governments to prepare for the influx and spread of the novel coronavirus infection. On the 30th, staff members were on duty at a screening clinic set up in front of the Jung-gu Public Health Center in Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Two days later, on the 27th, she visited the 21st Century Hospital located on Imbangul-daero in Gwangsan District for medical treatment. On the same day, she underwent chest X-rays and blood tests at Chonnam National University Hospital.

However, since she had no travel history to China and had a past lung disease, she was not classified as a suspected novel coronavirus patient. Afterward, she was prescribed pneumonia medication at Chonnam National University Hospital and returned home.

However, Ms. A's condition showed no signs of improvement. Eventually, on the 28th of last month, she revisited the 21st Century Hospital for pneumonia treatment.

She then visited the hospital consecutively on the 1st and 2nd for treatment. However, her fever did not subside, and symptoms such as difficulty breathing and chills appeared.

Finally, Ms. A was transferred to the emergency room of Chonnam National University Hospital on the 3rd. The hospital suspected a novel coronavirus infection and placed her in isolation. They then requested testing from the Gwangju Health and Environment Research Institute, and Ms. A was confirmed positive on the morning of the 4th.

◆ "Detailed investigation of infection route needed... currently no information to disclose"

In summary, Ms. A received six medical consultations over ten days at two hospitals before being confirmed, and it was only on the 3rd that isolation measures were taken due to suspected novel coronavirus symptoms. Currently, Ms. A's husband and three children are under self-quarantine.

Jung Eun-kyung, Director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said, "There are many unusual aspects even from our judgment regarding the 16th patient. Only through epidemiological investigation, by thoroughly examining who she contacted locally and how, can we determine the infection route."

Regarding Ms. A's condition, she said, "She is not in critical condition. We have received reports that she is stable," adding, "We need to conduct further tests to determine the extent."

Regarding her movements, she said, "We are in the process of backtracking medical records to select the exposure range," and added, "Since the investigation is ongoing, there is nothing to disclose at this time."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.