Acquaintance Gathering → Spread Among In-Hospital Nurses... First Estimate by Health Authorities (Update)

COVID-19 Central Disease Control Headquarters Regular Briefing
Gathering of Nurses' Acquaintances in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 9th-10th
"Possibility of Transmission to Other Nurses in Close Contact After Infection Outside"

Four nurses have tested positive for COVID-19, and medical staff are busy working at the hospital's screening clinic. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Daeyeol] Regarding the confirmation of COVID-19 infection in four nurses at Samsung Seoul Hospital, the health authorities estimate that one nurse was first infected outside the hospital, followed by transmission among colleagues within the hospital.

At a briefing on the 21st, Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, stated, "Among the three additional patients found among Samsung Seoul Hospital nurses, one asymptomatic patient was traced back to contacts on the 9th-10th, who were confirmed to have visited restaurants and karaoke rooms in Seocho-gu, Seoul." He added, "At present, it is assumed that infection first occurred in the community from the initial confirmed case, followed by transmission among hospital staff."

According to explanations from the health authorities and Gangnam District Office, the nurse who was confirmed positive on the 19th previously gathered with five acquaintances from the evening of the 9th until early morning the next day. Besides the nurses who attended the gathering, one resident each from Seosan, Chungnam and Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, were also confirmed positive. This suggests that a total of six people, including four nurses and two acquaintances of one nurse, could be grouped as one cluster.

Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters (Director of the National Institute of Health), briefing [Image source=Yonhap News]

The Gangnam District Office, which conducted the epidemiological investigation together, also considers it highly likely that the infection first occurred at the karaoke room. It is currently considered highly probable that the nurse infected outside the hospital, while asymptomatic, returned to the hospital and transmitted the virus to nurses who worked closely or performed surgeries together. However, since the epidemiological investigation is still ongoing, the health authorities are refraining from premature conclusions. They also do not completely rule out the possibility that nurses who worked together during surgeries were jointly exposed.

Deputy Director Kwon explained, "Among the Samsung Seoul Hospital nurses, additional patients are emerging who were exposed much earlier than the date when symptomatic patients were confirmed positive, so it is a reasonable assumption that the infection originated outside the hospital." He added, "Regarding the gathering, it is necessary to trace whether the infection occurred among acquaintances or if they were exposed to another infection source at the places they visited together."

According to the health authorities, Samsung Seoul Hospital is currently testing 1,418 contacts of patients. Apart from the first confirmed case and three other nurses, no additional positive cases have been found. Of the 1,418 people, 1,243 have been tested, with 835 testing negative. Results for 405 are pending, and testing will be conducted for the remaining 175.

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