Daegu 'COVID-19' Cluster Infections Continue... Death Toll Rises by 2

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Dong-wook] The number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) continues to rise in nursing hospitals and psychiatric hospitals in Daegu. Although the number of new confirmed cases is around 10, sporadic cluster infections and reinfection cases are emerging, placing additional burdens on health authorities.

According to Daegu City on the 8th, as of midnight, the cumulative number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in Daegu increased by 9 from the previous day to 6,803. The additional confirmed cases in Daegu were 7 on the 5th, 13 on the 6th, and 13 on the 7th, dropping back to single digits after three days.

However, sporadic cluster infections have continued steadily, mainly in high-risk facilities such as psychiatric hospitals.

On this day, 3 patients were infected at Suseong-gu Siji Nursing Hospital, increasing the number of confirmed cases at this hospital to 12. At Dalseong-gun Je2 Miju Hospital, one more patient was added, raising the total confirmed cases to 186. In addition, 5 people were identified as infected through contact with confirmed cases.

In particular, among patients who were treated and recovered after being confirmed positive, 24 reinfection cases have occurred in Daegu alone, raising concerns about re-spread. Since the 7th, Daegu City has started telephone monitoring of 5,001 recovered patients to check for the appearance of 11 symptoms including fever, headache, cough, sore throat, and pneumonia.

Chae Hong-ho, Deputy Mayor of Daegu, said, "Many reinfection cases have occurred, causing anxiety among citizens," and emphasized, "We will conduct mass testing of symptomatic recovered patients to fundamentally block re-spread."

Meanwhile, two patients who were confirmed positive and undergoing treatment in Daegu died consecutively on this day, increasing the death toll in Daegu to 135 and the total nationwide to 202. On the previous day, 9 people died in total: 4 in Daegu, 3 in Gyeonggi, and 2 in Seoul.

It has been 48 days since the first COVID-19 related death of a man in his 60s (a confirmed case related to Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo, Gyeongbuk) on February 19, and the death toll has now exceeded 200.

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