At Busan Haetteurak Nursing Hospital, 52 Staff and Patients Confirmed with COVID-19 in Large Numbers (Update)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] At a nursing hospital in Busan, 52 employees and patients tested positive for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). The 52 confirmed cases within the same group represent the largest cluster infection case in Busan.

On the 14th, Busan city health authorities announced, "52 people, including 9 employees and 43 patients at Haetteurak Nursing Hospital located in Mandeok-dong, Buk-gu, tested positive for COVID-19."

According to epidemiological investigations, a nursing assistant (female in her 50s, patient number 485) working at the nursing hospital was confirmed positive on the 13th. Following diagnostic tests for all 262 employees and patients at the nursing hospital where the confirmed patient worked, 52 additional positive cases were notified on the morning of the 14th. Consequently, the nursing hospital was placed under cohort isolation.

Health authorities are conducting an epidemiological investigation to identify the infection route of patient number 485, the initial symptom onset time, and the number of close contacts based on their movements.

Currently, health authorities are reportedly facing difficulties in the epidemiological investigation as the infection route of patient number 485 remains unclear.

Previously, in Mandeok-dong, Buk-gu, Busan, confirmed cases surged in places such as restaurants, bathhouses, and swimming pools. On the 1st, Busan city health authorities closed all 18 small parks in Mandeok-dong, Buk-gu, and issued a gathering restriction order mandating compliance with quarantine rules for local general restaurants and rest area eateries.

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