'35-Person Cluster Infection' First Confirmed Staff at Gyeongsan Seoyoyang Hospital, Worked Despite Suspicious Symptoms

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghoon Jeong] It has been revealed that an employee of Seoyoyang Hospital in Gyeongsan City, Gyeongbuk, where 35 confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported, ignored suspected symptoms such as fever and went to work before being diagnosed positive.

According to Gyeongsan City on the 21st, one employee of this hospital was confirmed positive for COVID-19 on the 19th.

This employee was the first confirmed case within the hospital. He had symptoms of fever and chills starting from the 15th and did not go to work on the 16th. However, as the symptoms somewhat eased, he went to work at the hospital on the 17th. But since symptoms such as fever persisted, he underwent a COVID-19 test at Gyeongsan Public Health Center on the 18th and entered self-quarantine, and was confirmed positive on the 19th. It was confirmed that this employee was neither a member of Shincheonji Church nor had recently traveled abroad. Gyeongsan City and health authorities believe that the first confirmed case going to work despite suspected symptoms was highly likely the cause of the virus spreading within the hospital.

After the first confirmed case occurred, Gyeongsan City conducted a full investigation of patients and staff at Seoyoyang Hospital, and a large number of confirmed cases were identified starting from the 20th. As of the morning of the 21st, the number of confirmed cases is 35 (27 patients, 8 staff). There were 323 people living in this hospital, including 188 patients and 135 staff. This hospital, which has four floors, has departments such as surgery on the first floor, and uses the 2nd to 4th floors for inpatient rooms, physical therapy rooms, and intensive care units.

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