Samsung Seoul Hospital COVID-19 Exposure and Contacts 277+α (Update)

Four Nurses Confirmed Positive... Number May Increase Following Epidemiological Investigation
Authorities: "15 Patients and 262 Medical Staff Exposed to Infection Source"

On the 19th, four nurses at Samsung Seoul Hospital were confirmed positive for COVID-19, while citizens are undergoing COVID-19 testing at the hospital's screening clinic. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] Four nurses at Samsung Seoul Hospital have tested positive for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), and the number of contacts exposed to the infection source has been identified as 277 as of the afternoon of the 19th. The health authorities believe there is a high possibility that this number will increase following the epidemiological investigation.

On the 19th briefing, Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters for COVID-19, stated, "So far, 15 patients and 262 medical staff at Samsung Seoul Hospital have been classified as exposed." He added, "Tracing back the 14-day incubation period, it is very likely that the number of patients or medical staff will increase."

According to the health authorities and the Seoul Metropolitan Government, one nurse at the hospital was confirmed positive the previous day, and on the same day, one nurse who participated in surgery and two others working in the same department tested positive. All are female nurses, and the infection route remains unclear at this time. Upon confirmation of the patient, the authorities immediately dispatched a rapid response team to the site to conduct an epidemiological investigation.

Among the four nurses, two were asymptomatic at the time of confirmation, and one reportedly began experiencing muscle pain on the 18th. It is also reported that one nurse participated in surgery; however, since operating rooms are generally equipped with special facilities such as negative pressure systems and all medical staff are cautious about infection, the possibility of large-scale transmission is considered low. Nevertheless, as the epidemiological investigation has not yet determined whether the infection occurred within the hospital or externally, the authorities are refraining from premature conclusions.

So far, a total of 266 medical staff infection cases have been identified. Kwak Jin, Patient Management Team Leader at the Disaster Countermeasures Headquarters, explained, "This figure includes cases infected during patient care as well as those infected in the community regardless of medical activities."

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