Complete Survey of Patients and Staff at 24 Psychiatric Hospitals in Daegu City

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunseok Yoo] Daegu City will conduct a full-scale investigation of COVID-19 among inpatients and workers at psychiatric hospitals, which are vulnerable to infectious disease management, following nursing hospitals and nursing homes.

This is due to concerns that group infections could spread among patients living together in closed spaces with windows and entrances shut, like the psychiatric ward of Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo, Gyeongbuk, where many COVID-19 confirmed cases and deaths occurred.

According to the city on the 22nd, starting as early as next week, a full investigation will be conducted targeting patients and staff at 24 psychiatric hospitals in the region. Daegu City will prioritize testing staff who have more frequent external contact than patients.

The full investigation of nursing hospitals, nursing homes, and social welfare living facilities, which began on the 13th, has been about 87% completed so far. Among approximately 390 facilities’ workers, residents, and inpatients totaling 33,610 people, 29,420 have been tested, and the remaining 4,190 will be tested today.

Through this full investigation, about 190 people including patients, nurses, and nursing assistants have been confirmed positive.

Considering that more than 8,000 people are awaiting testing and results notification, additional confirmed cases are likely to surge by early next week. A Daegu City official stated, "After consulting experts, we decided to conduct a full investigation of psychiatric hospital patients and staff," and added, "We will continue to identify high-risk group facilities and take preemptive measures."

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