Went to Department Store·Mart... "23rd Chinese Patient, 23 Contacts" (Update)

On the 7th, the Lotte Department Store Main Branch in Jung-gu, Seoul, where a confirmed case of the novel coronavirus infection visited, will temporarily close until the 9th. Next to the closure notice, customers wearing masks are leaving the department store. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced at a regular briefing on the 8th that a Chinese woman (57 years old) who was confirmed as the 23rd case of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) in South Korea had contacted a total of 23 people in the country.

The patient developed symptoms on the 3rd and was transferred to the National Medical Center on the 6th, having visited a hotel (President Hotel) in Jung-gu, Seoul, the main branch of Lotte Department Store in Jung-gu, Seoul, the Emart Mapo Gongdeok branch in Mapo-gu, Seoul, and accommodation in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, from the 2nd (one day before symptom onset) until the transfer. She was a subject of a full investigation who had entered the country for tourism purposes from Wuhan on the 23rd of last month.

Detailed information about the specific stores the 23rd patient visited in the department store and supermarket has not been disclosed. Kwak Jin, head of the epidemiological investigation and patient management team at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, said, "When a patient visits places like department stores, supermarkets, or shopping malls, we first confirm the time they entered the building and then identify detailed movement paths. We are currently investigating which stores the 23rd patient visited and will provide additional information as possible."

There was controversy as the patient's movements during the ten days from arrival in Korea until symptom onset were not disclosed. Jung Eun-kyung, director of the KCDC, explained, "The same standard applies to all patients, investigating and disclosing up to one day before symptom onset. Due to infection risk, it is not appropriate under the law or information disclosure principles to reveal movement paths that do not pose transmission or infection risk beyond the information necessary for the public."

The 16th patient (42-year-old female), who visited Thailand and other countries on a family trip, was confirmed to have contacted a total of 362 people domestically. The number of contacts includes 325 at Gwangju 21st Century Hospital where the patient stayed, 20 at Chonnam National University Hospital, and 17 family members and acquaintances. Among them, two family members were confirmed positive and classified as the 18th (21-year-old female) and 22nd (46-year-old male) patients, respectively. The KCDC stated, "The remaining contacts are under measures such as self-quarantine."

At the time the 16th patient was confirmed, 46 staff members were present at the hospital; 14 had contact with the patient, and 32 did not. The KCDC reported, "Tests were conducted on 134 people including inpatients, guardians, and caregivers regardless of contact with the 16th confirmed patient, and all tested negative."

Meanwhile, additional information was disclosed regarding the 17th (37-year-old male) and 19th (36-year-old male) patients, who were confirmed after developing symptoms following attendance at a conference held in Singapore. According to the KCDC's cooperation with Singapore health authorities, both patients attended a business meeting of a private company held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Singapore. A total of 109 people attended, including 94 foreigners, all of whom have since left the country.

According to the KCDC, among 15 Singapore residents, four suspected cases emerged, and one of them was confirmed positive on the 6th (27-year-old Singaporean). It was confirmed that Chinese attendees, including residents from Hubei Province, China, were present at the business meeting.

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