A Patient in Their 50s Hospitalized at Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital Dies One Day After Testing Positive

A notice of closure is posted at Catholic University Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital in Uijeongbu-si, Gyeonggi-do, which was decided to be closed due to a cluster infection of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the 1st. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] A man in his 50s with severe disabilities who was hospitalized and discharged from Catholic University Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital last month died one day after being diagnosed with COVID-19. This brings the total number of COVID-19 deaths in South Korea to 181.

On the 4th, Pocheon City in Gyeonggi Province announced that Mr. A (57), who was diagnosed with COVID-19 the previous morning, was admitted to Myongji Hospital in Goyang City and died around 4:30 a.m. that day. He is the first COVID-19 death in Pocheon City.

Myongji Hospital stated, "Mr. A was urgently admitted around 3 p.m. on the 3rd due to severe respiratory distress," adding, "He was immediately intubated and placed on a ventilator, but continued to experience shock and died 13 hours and 30 minutes after admission." They further explained that the direct cause of death was "acute septic shock," and it is presumed that bacterial pneumonia had progressed before the septic shock.

Mr. A, who resides in Soheul-eup, Pocheon City, was hospitalized at Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital, where a cluster infection recently occurred, on the 11th of last month and discharged on the 21st. It is understood that he was admitted for surgery due to foot necrosis caused by diabetes, a pre-existing condition. After discharge, he was reportedly immobile and stayed only at home without other movements. The quarantine authorities have completed disinfection of Mr. A's residence and are conducting an epidemiological investigation.

Meanwhile, a female disability activity support worker in her 60s who cared for Mr. A at the hospital was also diagnosed on the 2nd and tested positive on the 3rd during self-quarantine.

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