'Contact with Confirmed Case' Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare in 2-Week Self-Quarantine...No Symptoms (Update)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Koh Hyung-kwang] Kim Kang-rip, Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, has entered a two-week self-quarantine after coming into contact with the director of Bundang Jesaeng Hospital, who was confirmed positive for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). The contact occurred on the 13th during a meeting held to seek cooperation from metropolitan hospitals due to a surge in severe patients.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) announced on the 18th, "Following the COVID-19 confirmation of the director of Bundang Jesaeng Hospital this morning, epidemiological investigations by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and the Jung-gu Health Center in Seoul classified eight Ministry of Health and Welfare employees, including the CDSCH's first chief coordinator (Vice Minister of Health and Welfare), who attended the hospital directors' meeting on March 13, as contacts."

The CDSCH stated, "In accordance with relevant guidelines, a two-week self-quarantine and diagnostic testing upon symptom onset will be conducted," adding, "Currently, since none of the individuals show symptoms, diagnostic tests have not been performed."

Furthermore, contacts of confirmed patients' contacts are not subject to self-quarantine under current guidelines. Therefore, among those who had contact with the Vice Minister and the eight employees, there are no individuals required to self-quarantine. Except for the Vice Minister, the employees have not shown symptoms yet, and personal information disclosure is not applicable under the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act.

The CDSCH emphasized, "While the movements of confirmed patients are disclosed under the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act for preventive purposes, this does not apply to contacts," and requested consideration for personal information protection.

According to the CDSCH, the hospital directors' meeting chaired by Vice Minister Kim was held at 2 p.m. on the 13th at Conference House Dalgaebi in Jung-gu, Seoul, attended by Lee Sang-young, director of Bundang Jesaeng Hospital, who was later confirmed positive for COVID-19. According to the CDSCH and Seongnam City, Director Lee showed symptoms of cough and runny nose on the 16th, underwent testing at 2 p.m. on the 17th, and was confirmed positive at around 3:40 a.m. on the 18th.

After Director Lee's confirmation, Vice Minister Kim and eight Ministry of Health and Welfare officials who attended the meeting voluntarily quarantined themselves as a preventive measure. The meeting was attended mainly by Ministry of Health and Welfare officials and hospital directors, and it was reported that the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's Central Disease Control Headquarters and affiliated organizations or groups did not participate.

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