Youngest 4-Year-Old COVID-19 Case Confirmed in Daegu... Guardian to Accompany for Quarantine Treatment (Comprehensive)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] A 4-year-old child in Daegu Metropolitan City has been confirmed positive for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). This is the youngest confirmed patient identified so far.

On the morning of the 23rd, Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin stated at a regular briefing, "A 4-year-old child attending Hanarin Daycare Center in Nam-gu, who was under self-quarantine, has been confirmed as a patient and is currently hospitalized for treatment." The 4-year-old is the youngest COVID-19 patient in South Korea. Previously, the youngest was the 32nd patient, an 11-year-old girl born in 2009, who was confirmed positive on the 18th.

The daycare center attended by the 4-year-old had a teacher who was confirmed as the 58th patient on the 19th. Mayor Kwon said, "The 4-year-old child has mild symptoms and is reported to be in a very stable condition."

Jung Eun-kyung, Director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, explained, "Since it is difficult for the 4-year-old confirmed patient to be isolated and hospitalized alone, we are discussing a plan where a guardian wears personal protective equipment and cares for the child together." She added, "In China, those under 20 years old account for about 2% of all patients, most of whom have mild symptoms and do not progress to severe cases. We are currently discussing treatment guidelines for pediatric infections with the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society."

Meanwhile, as of 9 a.m. on the same day, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Daegu increased by 93 compared to the previous afternoon. Since the first confirmed case, the 31st patient, on the 18th, the cumulative number of patients in the region has reached 302. Mayor Kwon emphasized, "Even if the (central) government maintains the crisis alert at the 'caution' level, Daegu and Gyeongbuk are at the 'serious' stage."

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