92 COVID-19 Cases Confirmed at a Hospital in Tokyo, Japan

▲Governor Yuriko Koike of Tokyo holding a press conference [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] A cluster infection case has occurred in a hospital in Tokyo, Japan, where the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is rapidly increasing.

According to NHK on the 13th, Tokyo announced that among the 166 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases in the prefecture the previous day, 87 were hospital-related individuals including inpatients, doctors, and nurses at Ekoda Hospital located in Nakano-gu.

Among them, infections were confirmed in five patients who were admitted earlier, bringing the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases at this hospital to 92.

The authorities estimate that the cluster infection that occurred at this hospital started from a single patient.

Earlier, on the 1st, a febrile patient who had not been diagnosed with COVID-19 was reported to the health center, and as a result of testing close contacts of that patient, five infections were initially discovered.

Subsequently, about 100 other patients and medical staff suspected of being at risk of infection underwent additional testing, and on the 12th, 87 people were simultaneously confirmed positive.

Ekoda Hospital, a secondary emergency medical institution with 173 beds, has suspended outpatient care and visits for inpatients since the 5th, when confirmed COVID-19 cases were identified within the hospital.

In particular, most of the inpatients at this hospital are known to be elderly, causing Tokyo to be on alert.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said at a press conference on the night of the 12th, "Many of the patients at Ekoda Hospital are elderly," and added, "We will prepare appropriate measures."

Meanwhile, the cumulative number of infected people in the Tokyo area is 2,068 as of the 12th.

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