54th COVID-19 Death '82-Year-Old Male'... 3 Deaths in One Day Despite Declining Spread (Comprehensive)

by Jeong Donghoon

Published 09 Mar.2020 20:23(KST)

Updated 09 Mar.2020 20:33(KST)

On the 8th, medical staff at Yangcheon-gu Seonam Hospital are moving a confirmed COVID-19 patient, who was transported by ambulance from the Daegu Gyeongbuk area, into the hospital.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] The number of deaths caused by the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in South Korea has risen to 54.

According to Daegu City on the 9th, an 82-year-old male COVID-19 patient died around 3:54 PM while receiving treatment in a negative pressure isolation room at Kyungpook National University Hospital in Daegu. It is known that the patient had esophageal cancer as an underlying condition.

The patient visited the emergency room at Kyungpook National University Hospital on the 28th of last month due to a deterioration in overall health. After a chest X-ray showed signs of pneumonia the following day, a COVID-19 test was conducted, and he was confirmed positive. His symptoms worsened, including respiratory distress, on the 8th of this month, and he passed away on the same day.

Although the spread of COVID-19 has slowed, deaths caused by the virus continue. On this day, the number of new confirmed cases recorded from midnight to 4 PM was 96, showing a decline, but the death toll increased by three within a day.

Hundreds of patients still requiring hospitalization are unable to find beds and are waiting at home for admission. Health authorities stated that among the patients in Daegu City on this day, 35 were severe cases requiring ventilator treatment, and 340 people under self-quarantine needed hospitalization.

At around 2:20 AM on this day, a 75-year-old male suffering from pulmonary fibrosis died at Yeungnam University Hospital, and a 69-year-old female with no underlying conditions also died at around 6:15 AM at Keimyung University Dongsan Hospital after experiencing respiratory distress. They are the 52nd and 53rd COVID-19 deaths in the country, respectively.

Kim Shin-woo, head of the Daegu Infectious Disease Management Support Group, stated, "In the case of the 52nd deceased patient, the condition suddenly worsened, and although the 53rd deceased patient had no underlying conditions, their condition deteriorated leading to death."