Total COVID-19 Deaths Reach 41... Daegu and Gyeongbuk Increase by 6 (Comprehensive)

by Kim Dongpyo

Published 05 Mar.2020 19:26(KST)

Over 6,088 Total Confirmed Cases Surpass MERS in 45 Days

On the afternoon of the 5th, new medical public health doctors for 2020 at the Swiss Grand Hotel Convention Center in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, practiced putting on and taking off protective equipment while receiving job training in preparation for deployment to the field for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

The Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to appoint 742 new public health doctors early this year due to the rapid spread of COVID-19 and deploy them to screening clinics in Daegu, Gyeongbuk, and other regions starting from the 9th.

Among the confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in Daegu and Gyeongbuk, 6 additional deaths have been reported, bringing the total number of deaths in the country to 41.

This number surpasses the 39 deaths caused by the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak in 2015. The total number of confirmed cases has exceeded 6,000. It has been 45 days since the first patient was reported in the country.

According to health authorities on the 5th, at around 1:24 PM, patient A (67) who was confirmed with COVID-19 passed away at Kyungpook National University Hospital.

Patient A was transferred to Kyungpook National University Hospital on the 18th of last month due to pneumonia and other symptoms. An initial COVID-19 test came back negative.

However, on the 27th of last month, after developing a fever, a retest was conducted which confirmed the infection.

It was revealed that patient A had underlying conditions including diabetes and hepatocellular carcinoma.

On the same day at 7:34 AM, patient B (77), also confirmed with COVID-19, died at Daegu Fatima Hospital.

He showed symptoms of fever and difficulty breathing on the 3rd, and after visiting the emergency room at Fatima Hospital on the 4th, he was tested and confirmed positive for COVID-19.

Health authorities confirmed that patient B had a history of diabetes.

Four more deaths were reported in Gyeongbuk.

Two confirmed patients died at Andong Medical Center in Gyeongbuk in the morning.

Among the deceased, patient C (84) from Cheongdo was confirmed positive on the 21st of last month. He had underlying conditions such as heart failure and cerebral infarction.

Patient D (81) from Seongju was confirmed positive on the 4th and reportedly had no significant underlying conditions, according to Gyeongbuk Province.

Additionally, it was later revealed that patients E (86) and F (60), confirmed cases, died at Cheongdo County Nursing Hospital and Soonchunhyang University Gumi Hospital respectively the previous day.

Patient E, who suffered from dementia, was tested on the 3rd and was confirmed positive for COVID-19 on the 5th after death.

Patient F was transferred to Soonchunhyang Hospital in Gumi on the 1st due to symptoms of cerebral infarction. A CT scan revealed signs of pneumonia, leading to a COVID-19 test.

As a result, patient F was confirmed positive on the 3rd.

Meanwhile, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters announced that as of 4 PM on the same day, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country was 6,088.

As of midnight, the cumulative confirmed cases in Daegu and Gyeongbuk were 5,188, with 4,327 in Daegu and 861 in Gyeongbuk.

The cumulative confirmed cases in other regions are as follows: Gyeonggi 110, Seoul 103, Busan 92, Chungnam 86, Gyeongnam 74, Gangwon 23, Ulsan 23, Daejeon 16, Gwangju 14, Chungbuk 12, Incheon 9, Jeonbuk 7, Jeonnam 4, Jeju 4, and Sejong 1.

The domestic COVID-19 fatality rate as of midnight is 0.6%, but the fatality rate for those in their 70s is 4.5%, and for those aged 80 and above, it reaches 5.6%. Most of the reported deaths so far have been among elderly patients with underlying conditions.