One Employee at Dongbu Detention Center Confirmed Positive, Preparing for 8th Full Inspection

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] One staff member at Seoul Eastern Detention Center has been newly infected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Although the number of confirmed cases is decreasing, sporadic infection cases are still emerging, so it is not yet a stage to be fully relieved.

On the 10th, the Ministry of Justice announced that as of 8 a.m., one additional staff member at the Eastern Detention Center tested positive, bringing the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in correctional facilities nationwide to 1,224.

The number of confirmed inmates by institution is as follows: Eastern Detention Center 668, Gyeongbuk Northern No.2 Prison 333, Gwangju Prison 16, Seoul Southern Prison 17, Seoul Detention Center 1, Gangwon Northern Prison 3, among others.

In the 7th full inspection of 574 inmates whose results were announced the previous day, 12 inmates were newly confirmed positive. Among them, 11 were male inmates and 1 was a female inmate.

The Ministry of Justice believes that the COVID-19 outbreak in correctional facilities in the metropolitan area has somewhat subsided. In a full inspection conducted from the 30th of last month to the 6th of this month on 10,138 staff and 31,893 inmates across 33 correctional institutions nationwide, all but 5 inmates tested negative.

Inmates at Suwon Detention Center and Incheon Detention Center, which are high-rise building-type correctional facilities like the Eastern Detention Center, also all tested negative. Due to concerns that a second Eastern Detention Center incident could occur, the Ministry of Justice has ordered the establishment of an immediate activation system for isolation rooms for confirmed cases and isolation housing for close contacts.

However, cases of inmates transferred from the Eastern Detention Center to other facilities later testing positive continue to emerge, so it is not yet a situation to be relieved. Among the five confirmed on the 7th, four at Gangwon Northern Prison were inmates who tested negative at the Eastern Detention Center before being transferred.

The fact that deaths have occurred is also a cause for concern. A male inmate in his 70s, Mr. A, who was incarcerated at the Eastern Detention Center, tested positive for COVID-19 on the 25th of last month and subsequently died. On the morning of that day, he complained of symptoms such as difficulty breathing in the inmate room, received emergency treatment including cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and was transferred to a hospital but passed away. Mr. A was known to have underlying conditions such as angina and hypertension. Accordingly, the total number of inmates who have died from COVID-19 in correctional facilities nationwide has increased to three, including Mr. A.

Additionally, about half of the inmates who tested positive at the Eastern Detention Center and were transferred to Gyeongbuk Northern No.2 Prison have tested negative, which also requires continued monitoring. Among 341 confirmed cases retested, 155 tested negative at once.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Justice plans to continue additional testing at the Eastern Detention Center and Seoul Detention Center, where confirmed cases are still emerging. Testing will also be promptly conducted at the remaining 19 institutions that have not yet undergone full inspections. An 8th full inspection targeting inmates at the Eastern Detention Center is also reportedly being prepared.

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