Confirmed COVID-19 Case at Seoul Baek Hospital in Downtown... Jung-gu Office Mobilizes All Staff for Response

A 79-year-old woman born in 1941 residing in Daegu tested positive for COVID-19 on the 8th after chest CT showed signs of pneumonia... People who visited Paik Hospital in Jung-gu, Seoul are advised to contact their nearest public health center.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] A patient admitted to Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital (9 Mareunnae-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul) on the 3rd was confirmed positive for COVID-19 on the morning of the 8th.

Accordingly, Jung-gu (District Mayor Seo Yang-ho) urged visitors to Paik Hospital between the 3rd and 8th who have fever or suspicious symptoms to contact the nearest public health center.

The confirmed case is a female born in 1941 (79 years old) residing in Daegu City. A chest CT showed signs of pneumonia, and she was confirmed positive for COVID-19 on the 8th. She is currently being transferred to Seoul Medical Center for treatment.

In response, the district immediately completed emergency disinfection of the hospital emergency room, outpatient areas on floors 1 to 3, the confirmed patient's ward, the basement 1st floor X-ray room, and CT room, which were the patient's movement paths within the hospital.

After confirmation, the hospital immediately quarantined medical staff and employees who had contact with the confirmed patient and prohibited entry and exit, as well as internal movement of staff.

The emergency room, outpatient areas on floors 1 to 3, and some wards were voluntarily closed. Patients who shared the ward with the confirmed patient were isolated in single rooms, and other patients on the same floor will also be isolated individually as beds become available.

Currently, the district has established a joint situation room composed of Seoul City, Jung-gu Public Health Center, and hospital staff within Paik Hospital. Epidemiologists and civil law enforcement officers are conducting in-depth epidemiological investigations through CCTV to track the patient's movement and identify contacts. Family members who had contact with the confirmed patient have completed COVID-19 testing, and specimens from admitted patients and hospital staff are being collected and tested sequentially. It has been confirmed that three patients and their families who shared the same ward all tested negative.

The district is monitoring whether district office employees, elementary after-school care facilities, national and public daycare centers, and other local facility workers and users have visited Paik Hospital, and those who visited will be placed under self-quarantine. Except for emergency care leave, all employees who were on leave due to social distancing measures will return to the district office and enter an emergency response posture.

Monitoring will be further strengthened. The district plans to thoroughly implement unified entrances at public facilities such as the district office and community centers, hand sanitizing guidance, and fever checks.

Furthermore, the district has designated the period from March 9 to 15 as a focused disinfection period to block community transmission related to Paik Hospital and plans to respond with full force from all staff.

Disinfection efforts will focus on the Euljiro area around Paik Hospital as well as multi-use facilities and facilities for vulnerable groups within the district.

To prepare for increased inquiries and testing related to the confirmed case at Paik Hospital, the district will reinforce medical personnel such as doctors and strengthen the operation of screening clinics.

Additionally, all district office staff will share emergency situations and action manuals to guide residents and make every effort to alleviate residents' anxiety.

The district will proceed with self-quarantine and necessary follow-up measures for those identified as contacts through epidemiological investigations.

Seo Yang-ho, Mayor of Jung-gu, stated, "We will implement additional necessary measures immediately upon completion of the confirmed patient's movement and contact tracing. To block community transmission, we ask local residents to participate in social distancing, including adherence to personal hygiene rules, refraining from going out, and postponing gatherings."

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