Deaths Continue Unaware of COVID-19 Infection... "No Measures Other Than 'Get Tested Quickly'"

Gyeonggi Nursing Home Worker Found Dead at Home
Posthumous COVID-19 Test Confirms Positive
Multiple Posthumous Confirmed Cases Among Isolated Elderly
"Elderly with Underlying Conditions May Deteriorate Rapidly"

On the 3rd, a 119 paramedic is transporting a confirmed patient to an external treatment facility at Hyojeong Nursing Hospital in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] A man in his 30s who worked at a nursing home in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, was found dead on the 5th. The nursing home had experienced a COVID-19 cluster infection in late last month, and this employee was confirmed positive for COVID-19 after being tested postmortem. It is reported that he had been caring for patients while going back and forth between his home and the nursing home even after the cluster infection broke out.

At the time he was found dead, he was reportedly under self-quarantine. The exact time of death has not been determined. More than 1,000 people have died after being infected with COVID-19 in South Korea, but only five people in their 30s, including this employee, have died. It is reported that the employee had underlying health conditions.

At the end of last month, hospital staff wearing Level D protective suits were undergoing COVID-19 testing at a nursing hospital in Guro-gu, Seoul.

Earlier, on the 2nd, a man in his 60s living alone in Gyeonggi Province was also found dead. He was under self-quarantine after contact with a confirmed COVID-19 patient, but when the local health center could not reach him and visited his home, he was already deceased. After being transferred to a hospital, a COVID-19 test came back positive.

On the 1st, an elderly man in his 80s living alone in Gyeonggi Province was confirmed positive after death. Similarly, when contact was not possible, neighbors visited and found him already deceased. The police confirmed his death at the scene, and later at the hospital, it was confirmed he had COVID-19. Last month, a man in his 90s living in Sejong also died at home and was confirmed positive at the hospital the next day.

On the 4th, medical staff are collecting specimens at the temporary screening clinic in Eunpyeong-gu Office, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Symptoms Worsened During Quarantine Before Confirmation
Confirmed Positive After Death... "Get Tested Quickly and Take Action"

As dozens of people die daily from COVID-19, there are increasing cases of people dying before knowing they were infected. However, it is difficult to find appropriate measures to prevent such incidents. Currently, the only option is to get tested and treated as early as possible before or immediately after symptoms appear. Although the authorities have hurriedly expanded hospital beds since last month and have maintained a reported 'zero patients waiting for beds' for several days, there is nothing that can be done if a person dies before being confirmed positive.

Yoon Tae-ho, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters' quarantine team, said at a briefing on the 8th, "Elderly people and those with underlying diseases often show no symptoms but suddenly deteriorate rapidly, leading to respiratory distress or death. By improving access to testing and ensuring that those who test positive, especially elderly patients or those with underlying conditions, are identified and treated more quickly, such cases can be significantly reduced."

Medical staff are warming themselves against the cold at a temporary screening clinic set up in Seoul Station Plaza. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

According to health authorities, among COVID-19 deaths, those who die outside medical institutions account for just over 3%. As of the 4th, 28 people (2.9%) died at home, and 5 people (0.5%) died overseas or during transport.

Especially during the peak of the third wave, when hospital beds were not prepared in advance, 11 people died at home in just the past month. Considering that dozens also died in medical institutions lacking intensive care facilities and equipment, such as nursing hospitals, it indicates that a significant number of people die without receiving proper treatment.

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