Seoul Jungang Veterans Hospital COVID-19 Cluster Infection Spreads... Surges to 97 Cases

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seon-ae] The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases at Jungang Veterans Hospital in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, where a cluster infection occurred, has surged in just one day. More than half of the confirmed cases are elderly veterans, raising significant concerns due to the considerable possibility of progression to severe or critical conditions.

According to Jungang Veterans Hospital on the 14th, as of noon that day, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases at the hospital was 97.

This figure is nearly double the 58 confirmed cases recorded the previous day. Among the confirmed cases from the previous day, there were 34 inpatients, 22 caregivers, and 2 hospital staff members.

Among the 97 confirmed cases counted up to that day since the cluster infection occurred at the hospital, more than 60%?59 patients?are inpatients. The rest are caregivers, guardians, and hospital staff.

A hospital official stated that most of the inpatients confirmed with COVID-19 are elderly people in their 70s and 80s, due to the nature of the hospital.

The first confirmed case at Jungang Veterans Hospital was identified on the 11th, and a large number of additional cases have emerged during subsequent testing. The number of confirmed cases is expected to increase further.

The three wards where confirmed cases were identified the previous day are all located in the same building and are not wards with intensive care units.

Jungang Veterans Hospital is conducting comprehensive testing centered on the affected wards. Confirmed patients are being urgently transferred to the hospital’s dedicated COVID-19 wards, and quarantine measures are being implemented in the affected wards.

Jungang Veterans Hospital, a general hospital under the Korea Veterans Health Service, provides medical services to national merit recipients such as disabled veterans, patriots, and victims of the April 19 Revolution, as well as their families. It has been designated as a dedicated COVID-19 hospital since the end of last year.

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