Busan Prevented In-Hospital Infection by Isolating First COVID-19 Patient

Daedong Hospital Receives Appreciation Plaque from Busan Dongnae-gu for Contributions to Overcoming COVID-19
Infection Control Office Head Nurse Kim Ja-young Also Honored with Individual Appreciation Plaque

Daedong Hospital received a plaque of appreciation from Dongnae-gu, Busan, for its contribution to overcoming COVID-19.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Daedong Hospital received a plaque of appreciation from Dongnae-gu, Busan, in recognition of its contribution to overcoming COVID-19 and protecting the health of district residents.

On the 1st, at the Dongnae Cultural Center, Daedong Hospital was acknowledged for its active participation in preventing and controlling the spread of COVID-19 in the local community. Park Kyung-hwan, the hospital director, received the group plaque of appreciation on behalf of the hospital, and Kim Ja-young, head nurse of the Infection Control Office, also received an individual plaque of appreciation.

Director Park Kyung-hwan expressed, “This occasion is truly an honor, but I am most concerned about our staff who have been working hard for a long time as COVID-19 shows no sign of ending despite the cold winter passing and the hot summer arriving. We have always gained strength from the strong support and sponsorship of local residents under difficult circumstances, and it is an honor to receive this plaque of appreciation today.”

Daedong Hospital, which received the plaque of appreciation that day, operated a separate screening clinic after the number of domestic COVID-19 infections exceeded 10 in February. To conduct primary screening of patients and visitors, all entrances were closed except for one main entrance, which was divided into separate entry and exit points to prevent the paths of suspected COVID-19 cases and general patients from overlapping.

When the first COVID-19 patient in the Busan area was confirmed on February 21, the hospital quickly conducted examination and testing within about 30 minutes at a negative pressure screening clinic installed at the hospital entrance without allowing the patient to enter the hospital, thereby preventing in-hospital infection.

Amid the rapid increase in community infections, the hospital was designated as a Ministry of Health and Welfare Public Relief Hospital and worked to alleviate local residents’ anxiety and prevent the spread of infection through the operation of a respiratory relief center and a negative pressure isolation room at the regional emergency medical center.

Kim Ja-young, head nurse of the Infection Control Office who received the individual plaque of appreciation, said, “By adhering to screening guidelines and the medical staff’s prompt response, we were able to prevent the transmission and spread of infection in the community, thereby alleviating the vague anxiety of local residents about infectious diseases.”

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