Over 50 People Infected in Mass Outbreak at Busan Nursing Hospital... Cohort Isolation Measures Implemented (Comprehensive)

10 Staff and 42 Patients Confirmed Positive
Epidemiological Investigation Including Route and Contact Tracing

More than 50 staff and patients at Haetteurak Nursing Hospital in Mandeok-dong, Buk-gu, Busan, tested positive for COVID-19. The photo shows Haetteurak Nursing Hospital entering cohort isolation on the morning of the 14th.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] More than 50 employees and patients at a nursing hospital in Busan have tested positive for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Nursing facilities, where many elderly patients with low immunity or underlying conditions reside, are among the facilities that authorities focus on for quarantine measures due to the high risk of fatalities if a COVID-19 cluster infection spreads. Authorities have imposed cohort isolation measures on this hospital and launched an epidemiological investigation to trace infection routes and identify contacts.

According to quarantine authorities and local governments on the 14th, 10 employees and 42 patients at Haetteurak Nursing Hospital in Mandeok-dong, Buk-gu, Busan, tested positive for COVID-19. Earlier, a nursing assistant in her 50s working at this hospital was confirmed positive, and after conducting diagnostic tests on 262 employees and patients, a large number of additional cases were identified that morning. Among the confirmed cases, one person died. Since last month, sporadic cluster infections have been spreading around Mandeok-dong, centered on bathhouses and restaurants, resulting in continuous confirmed cases. The local small parks were closed, and quarantine measures such as gathering restrictions were strengthened for all restaurants in the area.

The Hae Tteu Rak Nursing Hospital, which entered cohort isolation on the morning of the 14th.

City Conducts Full Testing of 11 Nursing Hospitals in the Area
High Possibility of More Additional Cases

Quarantine authorities are conducting an epidemiological investigation to identify the infection route, symptom onset time, and close contacts of the initially discovered patient. Due to the nature of the work caring for patients with limited mobility, close contact is inevitable, making it highly likely that more cases will emerge. Busan City has decided to conduct full testing of approximately 1,400 people at 11 nursing hospitals in the Mandeok-dong area.

Facilities with many vulnerable groups, such as elderly welfare facilities and nursing hospitals, have often experienced multiple infections within the facility once the virus is introduced. Therefore, quarantine authorities have implemented stricter measures than other facilities, such as restricting visits and mandating mask-wearing. This month, cluster infections have occurred nationwide, including 19 confirmed cases at Somang Community Nursing Home in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province; 12 at Yangpyeong Sarang Daycare Center in Gyeonggi; 11 at Michuhol-gu Elderly Daycare Center in Incheon; and 11 at Bobae Nursing Home in Seo-gu, Daegu.

Meanwhile, as of 0:00 this morning, there were 84 new confirmed cases, with 53 presumed to be local infections and 31 imported cases. The 52 cases at Haetteurak Nursing Hospital are not included in this count. Among the imported cases, 14 foreigners who entered from the United States were the largest group. The number of imported cases has been steadily increasing, totaling 93 over the past three days.

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