Number of COVID-19 Infections in Japanese Hospital Rises to Five

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Min-young] The number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in a hospital in Japan has increased to five.

On the 15th, Kyodo News reported that three additional confirmed cases occurred at Saiseikai Arida Hospital in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, where a doctor and a patient had previously tested positive for COVID-19. The new cases include a male doctor in his 50s and his spouse, as well as a hospitalized patient in their 60s.

Earlier, on the 13th, a male surgeon in his 50s at the hospital was confirmed to be infected with COVID-19, and on the 14th, a male patient in his 70s who had received an internal medicine examination and was temporarily hospitalized was also confirmed positive.

Wakayama Prefecture is believed to have determined that the COVID-19 infection spread within the hospital. This is the first time in Japan that COVID-19 has spread within a hospital.

Saiseikai Arida Hospital, where a total of five infections have occurred, has suspended outpatient services since the previous day. Japanese media reported that the hospital is urging patients and their families who have used the hospital and exhibit symptoms such as coughing to seek medical examination.

Additionally, COVID-19 testing will be conducted focusing on those who had frequent contact with infected individuals among the 158 patients currently hospitalized.

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