Another Medical Facility in Gwangju... 7 Consecutive Infections Among Nursing Hospital Staff and Others

Quarantine Authorities Begin Regular Inspections and Tests of High-Risk Facilities

New Infections Started in Nursing Homes Last Month and in Long-Term Care Hospitals This Month

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Gwan-woo] In Gwangju Metropolitan City, concerns are rising that there may be gaps in quarantine measures such as staff management at medical institutions, as a large number of new COVID-19 cases have emerged not only in nursing homes, which are vulnerable facilities, but also in nursing hospitals.

Last month, 62 confirmed cases (as of the 2nd) were reported due to a chain infection related to Evergreen Nursing Home, classified as a high-risk facility. Starting from this nursing home, within just a few weeks, the n-th wave of infections rapidly spread to Jin Nursing Hospital, saunas, and acquaintances' gatherings.

According to Gwangju City on the 2nd, as of 6 p.m. that day, 14 additional confirmed cases were identified, classified as Gwangju cases 1119 to 1132.

Among them, half?7 people (Gwangju cases 1119 to 1125)?were confirmed cases related to Hyojeong Nursing Hospital located in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, which was identified as a new infection route.

As a preemptive response, quarantine authorities are conducting biweekly inspections and tests on high-risk facilities such as nursing hospitals.

Hyojeong Nursing Hospital had all members tested negative in the second round of testing conducted early last month; however, in this third round of testing, one care worker, one nurse, and five staff members tested positive.

Currently, it is known that about 290 inpatients are at this nursing hospital. Considering the possibility of infection among inpatients, comprehensive testing is also underway.

Quarantine authorities plan to establish countermeasures based on additional results and risk assessments related to Hyojeong Nursing Hospital.

In Gwangju, two confirmed cases (Gwangju cases 1131 and 1132) related to another medical institution, Gwangju Christian Hospital, were also reported on the same day.

Additionally, three contacts of Gwangju case 1113, one person related to Jeonnam case 504, and one person related to Gwangju case 1077 were confirmed.

The number of new confirmed cases on this day is 21, including 7 previously announced cases as of now. The cumulative number of confirmed cases has increased to 1,132.

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