20 More Confirmed Cases at Seoul Dongbu Detention Center, Total Reaches 63... Omicron Cluster Infection Feared

All Staff and Inmates Undergo Comprehensive Testing

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Choi Seok-jin, Legal Affairs Specialist Reporter] Among the inmates at Seoul Dongbu Detention Center, 20 more tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 63.

In variant virus tests conducted on 9 confirmed cases by health authorities, 8 were found to be infected with the Omicron variant, raising concerns about a cluster infection of the Omicron variant.

On the 30th, the Ministry of Justice announced that following the outbreak of a COVID-19 cluster infection the previous day, PCR tests were conducted on inmates in the affected detention building, resulting in 20 additional confirmed cases. The number of confirmed inmates at Seoul Dongbu Detention Center increased from 43 to 63.

The Ministry of Justice stated, "The 20 newly confirmed inmates have been cohort isolated, and additional close-contact inmates have been isolated one per room."

Additionally, the Ministry of Justice added, "Currently, Seoul Dongbu Detention Center is conducting mass testing of all staff and inmates to prevent further spread. For detention buildings with confirmed cases, daily PCR tests will be conducted, and mass testing of all staff and inmates will be carried out every three days."

Meanwhile, according to Seoul City on the same day, variant virus infection tests on 9 confirmed cases at Seoul Dongbu Detention Center detected the Omicron variant in 8 individuals. The remaining one was confirmed to have the Delta variant.

The previous day, 36 additional confirmed cases were identified at Seoul Dongbu Detention Center. All were inmates, and no staff members tested positive.

At that time, the Ministry of Justice stated, "Although new inmates legally detained at Seoul Dongbu Detention Center tested negative upon admission, considering the spread of Omicron in the community, additional PCR tests were conducted on the 25th, resulting in 2 confirmed cases, and on the 26th, 1 more inmate tested positive."

The Ministry of Justice continued, "Following this, mass testing was conducted on legally detained inmates and dormitory helpers in the same detention building, resulting in 4 additional confirmed inmates on the 28th. Further mass testing of inmates and staff to prevent additional spread identified 36 more confirmed cases on the 29th."

Since late 2020 through early last year, Seoul Dongbu Detention Center experienced a cluster infection with over 1,000 confirmed cases. Currently, civil lawsuits filed by inmates who were confirmed positive for COVID-19 and their families against former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae and others are ongoing.

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