Patient No. 24 'Wuhan Gyomin' Tests Negative Immediately After Return

Positive Result in Secondary Test at Temporary Facility
Third Case of Reversed Diagnosis Raises Accuracy Concerns

On the 7th, as the spread of the novel coronavirus infection continues, medical staff are seen conversing at the screening clinic of the National Medical Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Beijing=Correspondent Sunmi Park, Reporter Daeyeol Choi] One additional domestic patient of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) was confirmed on the morning of the 7th. The patient is a 28-year-old male who had been staying at the Asan temporary living facility after returning on the first charter flight from Wuhan, China on the 31st of last month. Including the two previously discharged patients, the total number of confirmed cases in the country has risen to 24. In China, confirmed cases have surpassed 30,000, and 636 people have lost their lives so far. Since this is a novel infectious disease, it is difficult to make definitive judgments, but domestic and international health experts are concerned that the number of patients is likely to increase for the time being.

According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the newly confirmed domestic patient tested negative in the test conducted immediately after returning. However, as symptoms did not improve, medical staff at the temporary facility conducted another test, which resulted in a positive diagnosis. This is the second confirmed case among Wuhan evacuees and the third case where the initial test was negative but later confirmed positive. Previously, patient number 8, who returned from Wuhan to Qingdao, and patient number 20, who had contact with another patient, initially tested negative but were later confirmed positive after retesting. This suggests that in the early stages of infection, when the viral load is low, it may not be detected through testing. Concerns about community transmission have increased.

According to data released by the National Health Commission of China on the same day, 3,143 new confirmed cases were added, bringing the cumulative total to 31,161. In Hubei Province, where the outbreak city Wuhan is located, 2,447 new confirmed cases were added. The number of deaths increased by 73 in one day, bringing the total death toll to 636. Among them, 69 deaths occurred in Hubei Province, and one death each was reported in Jilin Province, Henan Province, Guangdong Province, and Hainan Province. Still, 28,985 patients remain isolated and are receiving treatment in hospitals, and the number of severe cases has reached 482, indicating that the death toll is expected to continue rising.

Although the number of patients and deaths is increasing, some experts say it is still too early to consider it a pandemic. Mike Ryan, head of the World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Response Team, said on the same day, "It is premature to say that the novel coronavirus infection originating from China has reached its peak," adding, "Currently, the situation outside Wuhan is relatively stable, but there is a possibility that the number of confirmed cases will increase again within the next few days."

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