Confirmed Cases Back to Three Digits... Gaps Found in Epidemiological Investigations

94 Cases of Delayed Testing Cluster Outbreak at 9 Nursing Hospitals in Daegu
144 Missing Names Due to 'List Error' at Bundang Jesaeng Hospital... No Isolation

[Asia Economy Reporters Choi Daeyeol, Kim Heungsun, Jung Donghoon] The number of new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in South Korea has risen back to the 100s after five days. According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters on the 19th, as of midnight, the cumulative number of confirmed cases increased by 152 from the previous day, totaling 8,565.

The cluster infection case in Daegu, where 94 patients occurred at nine nursing hospitals in the region, influenced the increase in new cases. The number of new cases in Daegu rose by 97 compared to the previous day. In Gyeonggi Province, where cluster infections occurred at Bundang Jesaeng Hospital and Eunhyeui Gang Church, new cases increased by 18 from the previous day. In Seoul, where cases related to the Guro Call Center, Dongdaemun-gu Dongan Church, and PC rooms emerged, 12 new cases were added. Additionally, the number of new confirmed cases among those who entered the country from overseas increased by 5 compared to the previous day.

Bundang Jesaeng Hospital, Contact List Error

Even after confirming cluster infections centered on specific facilities or institutions, additional cases continue steadily due to inadequate epidemiological investigations. In Daegu, cluster outbreaks at nursing facilities have re-emerged. Nursing homes and nursing hospitals are considered high-risk facilities due to the high number of elderly residents, and comprehensive testing of facility workers began on the 13th. Considering the large-scale regional outbreak centered on Shincheonji Church members, this response has been criticized as delayed.

On the 8th, access was restricted at Bundang Jesaeng Hospital in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases related to Bundang Jesaeng Hospital increased to 31 by the morning of the day. Since the first confirmed case was identified on the 5th in a patient who visited the emergency room, many patients as well as medical staff including nurses and the hospital director have been infected. The problem lies in the incorrect submission of the contact list for those who entered the ward where the initial confirmed case was found. The hospital submitted a contact list (135 people) related to the ward, which was used for epidemiological investigation, but two newly confirmed patients on the 16th were not on this list. Upon re-investigation, it was found that 144 people were omitted. Four patients, including the hospital director, were not on the initial list.

In a statement released that day, the hospital said, "We deeply apologize for the current situation caused by communication problems with the rapidly moving epidemiological investigators and the investigation team's failure to recognize the requested data due to insufficient work capacity." The hospital added that the omissions were not intentional but due to a lack of personnel and poor handling of tasks.

On the afternoon of the 18th, quarantine officials are conducting disinfection work related to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a church in Songpa-gu, Seoul.

Investigation Failures at Seongnam Eunhyeui Gang and Cheonan Zumba Dance Also Major Causes
Local Government Epidemiological Investigation Deficiencies Under Scrutiny

At Seongnam Eunhyeui Gang Church, where 65 confirmed cases were reported, delays in identifying contacts have led to continuous new cases for about a week since the first patient appeared. Two newly confirmed patients (residing in Gwangju and Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province) were identified as contacts of church members' families. There were also patients presumed to have been infected after dining with the church pastor or through contact with church members despite not being members themselves. Some patients reportedly showed symptoms as early as the 8th but were only confirmed positive nearly ten days later. Since the 16th, local governments have not disclosed epidemiological investigation results such as movement routes for patients confirmed after that date.

The large-scale cluster outbreak related to the Cheonan Zumba dance studio, with over 100 confirmed cases, is also attributed to inadequate epidemiological investigations. After a workshop held in Cheonan on the 15th of last month, presumed to be a mass exposure event, some attendees were refused diagnostic testing, and comprehensive investigations were only conducted in early March, much later.

In Seongnam City, multiple large-scale cluster outbreaks occurring around the same time have slowed the investigation process. Rapid identification and isolation of contacts to prevent further spread have been delayed, raising concerns about additional infections. Professor Ki Moran of the National Cancer Center (Chair of the COVID-19 Countermeasures Committee of the Korean Society of Preventive Medicine) said, "Local governments are increasing epidemiological investigation personnel and organizations, but there is still a significant shortage. For proper epidemiological investigations, public cooperation during the initial investigation process is most important."

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