One 80s Spanish expatriate dies while hospitalized after testing positive for 'COVID-19'

First Death Case of Overseas Korean COVID-19 Patient... One Administrative Staff at Overseas Diplomatic Mission Also Confirmed Positive

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] It has been confirmed that one Spanish expatriate who tested positive for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has died. A total of 59 confirmed cases have been reported in 23 countries and regions worldwide, of which 18 have recovered.

On the 13th, a senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "An elderly man in his late 80s who was diagnosed with COVID-19 in early April passed away on the 10th (local time) while receiving treatment at a hospital," adding, "This is the first case of death after a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis."

Additionally, one administrative staff member working at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea to the European Union (EU) in Belgium also tested positive. This is the first time that a staff member at an overseas diplomatic mission has been confirmed with COVID-19. The senior official said, "One employee working at the overseas mission was diagnosed positive by medical personnel on the 9th."

The possibility of further confirmed cases within the mission is considered low. The official explained, "We identified this in mid-March; the cohabitant had contact with a confirmed case and was self-quarantined preventively, but after more than 10 days, tested positive," adding, "Since the employee had not been to the mission for quite some time, other mission staff are considered to be safe."

The number of people who returned to Korea with consular assistance from overseas missions has reached 13,653 from 61 countries. This figure includes those who returned on chartered flights arranged by the Korean government as well as those who returned on chartered flights arranged by other countries. Cases of exceptional entry support for businesspeople have been recorded as 2,842 from 9 countries.

The senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained, "There are cases where other countries' nationals board flights arranged by the Korean government to depart, and cases where our nationals returned via flights arranged by the U.S. government, among others," adding, "Exceptional entry permissions for businesspeople are also steadily being granted."

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