Authorities: "17-year-old deceased tested negative for influenza and other viruses besides COVID-19" (Update)

High School Student Hospitalized at Yeungnam University Hospital Dies of Pneumonia; Tests Negative for COVID-19 and Other Infections
"Cause of Death Is an Area for Attending Physician's Comprehensive Judgment; Revising the Death Certificate Is a Natural Procedure"

Jung Eun-kyung, Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for COVID-19

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] On the 20th, health authorities announced that respiratory virus tests for eight types were conducted on a 17-year-old high school student in Daegu who died after showing pneumonia symptoms, but none of the infections were detected. Earlier, the student also received a final negative result for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, stated at a briefing that "while conducting the COVID-19 test on the 17-year-old deceased, tests for other respiratory viruses were also performed," adding, "there were no positive results among the eight commonly tested viruses, including influenza."

According to health authorities, the patient who died on the 18th had inconclusive results with both negative and positive outcomes across 13 tests conducted during hospitalization. Twelve of these tests were negative, but the last urine and sputum tests showed partial polymerase chain reaction (PCR) reactions. Yeungnam University Hospital, where the patient was admitted, subsequently sent the specimens to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and conducted retests in collaboration with Seoul National University Hospital and Severance Hospital. After review by the Diagnostic Test Management Committee and others, a final negative judgment regarding COVID-19 was made.

The health authorities viewed the determination of the cause of death as a matter for the attending medical staff. Director Jung said, "The Central Disease Control Headquarters only assessed whether the deceased died from pneumonia caused by COVID-19," adding, "The Central Clinical Committee provided opinions on clinical and chest radiography findings, and the Diagnostic Management Committee concluded that the death was not due to COVID-19." She further stated, "The cause of death should be judged comprehensively by the attending physician based on test results," and "Autopsy decisions are also within the discretion of the guardian or attending physician, and we do not hold separate opinions on this."

Regarding Yeungnam University Hospital's revision of the high school student's cause of death on the death certificate from 'acute respiratory failure due to COVID-19 pneumonia' to 'pneumonia,' Director Jung explained, "Since COVID-19 infection was suspected, multiple tests were likely conducted, and the initially recorded cause of death was based on that assumption," adding, "Because the final test results showed that the death was not due to COVID-19, revising the certificate is a natural procedure."

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