Daegu COVID-19 Cases Reach 500 in a Week... "No Word on Lockdown Measures" (Comprehensive)

Mayor Kwon Young-jin of Daegu
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] The number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in the Daegu area reached 500 just seven days after the first patient was reported.

The Daegu Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced on the 25th at 9 a.m. that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Daegu increased by 58 compared to the same time the previous day, reaching 500.

Among the 500 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Daegu, 358 patients have been hospitalized. The remaining 142 patients are planned to be hospitalized in stages. Mayor Kwon Young-jin stated at a briefing that day, "We are doing our best to prevent a shortage of hospital beds." Daegu has secured a total of 783 isolation beds so far. Initially, 224 beds at Daegu Medical Center and 240 beds at Keimyung University Daegu Dongsan Hospital (Jung-gu) were secured. Additionally, 319 beds were added at Daegu Veterans Hospital (89 beds), Korea Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service Daegu Hospital (200 beds), and Yeungnam University Hospital (30 beds).

Daegu City plans to strictly manage the self-quarantine of Shincheonji Church members. Cooperation from the police has also been requested. The number of Shincheonji Daegu Church members residing in Daegu is identified as 8,269. Among them, three individuals have not yet been contacted. Daegu City and district offices plan to deploy 3,000 administrative personnel to check twice daily whether self-quarantine is being properly observed. For Shincheonji members who are medical personnel, teachers, or daycare workers, Daegu City will manage them directly.

Five confirmed COVID-19 cases were also identified among hospitalized pneumonia patients in Daegu. Since the 21st, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters has conducted COVID-19 diagnostic tests on 514 pneumonia inpatients in Daegu and completed specimen collection. As a result, five patients currently hospitalized were confirmed positive. If these patients were not isolated in single rooms, there is concern about hospital-acquired infections.

Meanwhile, regarding the announcement of the 'largest lockdown measure in Daegu' by the ruling party, government, and the Blue House on the same day, Mayor Kwon said, "I have not heard anything about it," and added, "Daegu, which has a large volume of freight, will not be locked down. It is meaningful only from a quarantine perspective." However, he also said, "I have not confirmed the details of the ruling party and government announcement yet, but after confirmation, we will make announcements on any necessary positions."

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