Samsung Seoul Hospital Nurse Tests Positive for COVID-19: "Not an Itaewon Visitor" (Update)

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] A nurse at Samsung Medical Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, has tested positive for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

Samsung Medical Center announced on the 19th that a nurse working in the operating room tested positive for COVID-19 and that an epidemiological investigation is underway.

The patient, Nurse Lee, in her 20s residing in Seoul, was confirmed to have not recently visited the Itaewon area. She also had no contact with acquaintances who had been to Itaewon.

At least 200 medical staff and patients have been in contact with the nurse. The hospital is currently conducting COVID-19 diagnostic tests on these individuals.

The nurse developed a fever on the 17th, a day she did not go to work, and after undergoing a COVID-19 test on the 18th, she stayed at home awaiting results. She was confirmed positive that evening and was transferred to a government-designated hospital.

Nurse Lee, who worked in the main building operating room, reportedly wore a mask most of the time inside the hospital and operating room.

The main building operating room is currently temporarily closed, while the other annex operating rooms and the cancer hospital operating rooms remain operational. Outpatient care is also proceeding normally.

The route of COVID-19 infection for the nurse has not yet been confirmed. The nurse and her mother, who lives with her, tested negative in their first polymerase chain reaction (PCR) diagnostic tests.

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