English interpreter confirmed with COVID-19 after exposure to saliva from infected patient... Passed away last month

Local Police Tracking Man Who Spat

Inside Victoria Station, London, UK / Photo by EPA Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] An incident occurred in which a station worker at a train station in London, UK, was spat on by a man suspected of being infected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), subsequently contracted COVID-19, and died.

According to local media including the BBC on the 12th (local time), Mr. A (47), who worked at the ticket office of Victoria Station, was diagnosed with COVID-19 and passed away last month on the 5th at Barnet Hospital.

The media reported that in March, while working in the central hall of the station with colleague Mr. B, Mr. A was spat on by a man who approached them.

The man reportedly spat on Mr. A and others and made statements implying that he was infected with COVID-19.

Both individuals were diagnosed with COVID-19 a few days after the incident and were transferred to the hospital.

Mr. A, who had pre-existing respiratory conditions, ultimately died. He was reported to have a husband and an 11-year-old daughter.

In an interview with the media, Mr. A’s husband said, "The last time I spoke with my wife was via video call while she was hospitalized. I thought she was asleep. The doctor informed me of her death. She was a good person, a good mother, and a good wife."

Local police are investigating and tracking the man who spat on Mr. A and others.

Meanwhile, it is estimated that the cumulative death toll from COVID-19 in the UK has surpassed 40,000.

According to the daily newspaper The Guardian on the same day, as of the 9th, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported 35,044 cumulative COVID-19 deaths in the England and Wales regions. The media explained that including additional deaths in hospitals affiliated with the National Health Service (NHS), the total number of deaths in the UK reached 40,011 as of that day.

The UK government announced that as of the 9th, the number of COVID-19 deaths in England and Wales was 31,586, which is more than 3,000 fewer than the ONS figures. This discrepancy is believed to be due to differences in counting criteria. The government counts only deaths of those who tested positive for COVID-19, whereas the ONS classifies all deaths where COVID-19 is listed on the death certificate as COVID-19 deaths.

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