Daegu Faces 'Second Wave of Group Infections'...7 Confirmed in Full Survey of Nursing Hospitals, Total 94 Cases

Daegu Hansarang Nursing Hospital located in Seo-gu, Daegu. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghoon Jeong] Seven additional confirmed cases have been reported at five nursing hospitals in the Daegu area, where another large-scale group infection occurred.

According to Daegu City on the 19th, in addition to the five locations where confirmed cases were identified the previous day, seven more confirmed cases were found at five other elderly care facilities. These include 2 at Kimshin Nursing Hospital in Suseong-gu, 2 at Daesil Nursing Hospital in Dalseong-gun (1 nurse, 1 nursing assistant), 1 at Daehan Nursing Hospital in Jung-gu (nurse), 1 at Baesung Hospital in Buk-gu, and 1 at Isia Nursing Hospital in Dong-gu. No additional confirmed cases were reported at Hansarang Nursing Hospital, where 57 elderly confirmed cases were identified the previous day.

Following 87 confirmed cases the previous day, the additional 7 cases have increased the total number of confirmed cases from the Daegu area nursing hospitals' comprehensive survey to 94. By hospital, the numbers are: 74 at Hansarang Nursing Hospital in Seo-gu, 9 at Baesung Hospital in Buk-gu, 1 at Kimshin Nursing Hospital in Suseong-gu, 4 at Suseong Nursing Hospital in Suseong-gu, 1 at Siji Nursing Hospital in Suseong-gu, 2 at Daesil Nursing Hospital in Dalseong-gun, 1 at Jinmyeong Silver Home in Dong-gu, 1 at Isia Nursing Hospital in Dong-gu, and 1 at Daehan Nursing Hospital in Jung-gu.

Confirmed cases were also identified at two general hospitals. At Fatima Hospital, a total of 6 confirmed cases occurred, including 1 nurse and 5 patients. After one patient and one nurse were confirmed with COVID-19 on the 17th, a comprehensive survey of about 50 patients and medical staff in the same ward revealed 4 additional confirmed cases. Two people were also confirmed at Daegu Catholic University Hospital.

Since the 13th, Daegu City has been conducting a comprehensive survey of about 390 high-risk group facilities, including social welfare facilities and nursing hospitals. Of the 33,628 people subject to the survey, diagnostic tests have been completed for 20,448 (60.8%). Most of the confirmed cases in nursing facilities are elderly, with limited mobility or bedridden 'recumbent patients,' making the securing of treatment hospitals and beds an urgent matter.

Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin stated, "If a large-scale infectious disease outbreak is confirmed due to negligence in facility and hospital management, we will actively consider legal measures against those responsible."

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