"Cause of 33rd Death Determined as Pneumonia Due to COVID-19" (Summary)

Image source=Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] The quarantine authorities explained on the 4th that the cause of death of the 33rd confirmed case of novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in Korea appears to be pneumonia worsening related to COVID-19.

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said at the regular briefing in the afternoon, "The direct cause of death is judged to be pneumonia caused by coronavirus infection."

According to the quarantine authorities and Daegu City, the deceased passed away around 1:50 a.m. at the negative pressure isolation ward of Chilgok Kyungpook National University Hospital. The patient showed symptoms of cough and chills on the 25th of last month and underwent a COVID-19 test at the screening clinic of Daegu Catholic University Hospital, receiving a confirmed diagnosis the following day. The patient was admitted to Chilgok Kyungpook National University Hospital on the 29th of last month due to breathing difficulties and has been receiving treatment since. Kwak Jin, head of the epidemiological investigation team 1 at the Central Disease Control Headquarters, stated, "No other underlying diseases were confirmed, and the patient was elderly at 67 years old."

As of this day, among the confirmed COVID-19 cases in Korea, 52 patients are classified as severe or higher, of which 25 are in critical condition. Team leader Kwak said, "There are 27 patients classified as severe, who are wearing oxygen masks or have a fever above 38.5 degrees Celsius, and 25 patients in critical condition who are using mechanical ventilation or artificial respirators."

For severe patients undergoing isolated treatment, therapies such as ECMO and artificial respirators, as well as oxygen mask treatment, are administered. ECMO stands for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, a device that removes blood from critically ill patients whose heart and lungs are not functioning properly, supplies oxygen, and returns it to the body. Artificial respirators through intubation are used to treat patients who cannot breathe on their own. Patients who are in a better condition than this but have a fever above 38.5 degrees Celsius or decreased oxygen saturation due to pneumonia receive oxygen mask treatment.

As of midnight on this day, the cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Korea is 5,328, with 33 deaths. According to the analysis by the quarantine authorities, 65.6% of confirmed cases are related to cluster outbreaks. Among them, in Daegu City, which has the highest number of patients nationwide (4,006), 2,583 confirmed cases (64.5%) are related to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in Daegu.

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