Within One Week... 13 Medical Staff Confirmed Positive at Seoul Hospital (Update)

On the morning of the 3rd, Seoul Asan Hospital screening clinic. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporters Seunggon Han and Seulgi Kim, Interns] Over the past week, at least 13 medical staff have tested positive and are undergoing treatment due to a cluster infection of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at seven medical institutions in Seoul.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 3rd that 87 medical personnel are currently in self-quarantine, and at least 13 have been confirmed positive for COVID-19.

Among the medical institutions where COVID-19 outbreaks occurred, hospital-level facilities include △Nokseong Hospital in Jungnang-gu, △Seoul Bumin Hospital in Gangseo-gu, and △Jungang Veterans Hospital in Gangdong-gu; general hospital-level includes △Hyemin Hospital; and tertiary general hospitals include △Hanyang University Hospital and △Seoul Asan Hospital, according to the Seoul city government.

As a result, 13 medical staff and 17 patients have been confirmed positive.

Additionally, 87 medical personnel are in self-quarantine, and 204 patients at various medical institutions have been placed under quarantine.

Park Yumi, Seoul’s Disease Control Officer, explained during the online 'COVID-19 Regular Briefing' that "regardless of the size of the medical institution?clinic-level, hospital-level, general hospital-level, or tertiary general hospital-level?cases of patient infections are emerging in various places."

Officer Park added, "There are many cases where patients are infected through medical staff, and conversely, many cases where medical staff are infected through patients."

He stated, "We are investigating the number of people in self-quarantine at Seoul Asan Hospital and operating an immediate response team. After one confirmed case was reported at the hospital as of yesterday (the 2nd), an additional five cases emerged, including six confirmed cases among three patients and three caregivers. Although they tested negative upon admission, they were confirmed positive during their hospital stay, and the infection routes are currently under investigation."

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