Wore a Mask... 60s Woman in Pocheon Confirmed Positive After 15-Minute Conversation with Confirmed Case

by Kim Heungsoon

Published 15 Apr.2020 18:09(KST)

Updated 16 Apr.2020 08:12(KST)

Image source=Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] On the 15th, a woman in her 60s in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, who was diagnosed with COVID-19, was found to have developed symptoms after talking for about 15 minutes with a previously confirmed patient four days earlier.

According to Pocheon City and health authorities, the woman residing in Yeongbuk-myeon tested positive for COVID-19 at 8:41 a.m. that day and was transferred to Gyeonggi Medical Center Pocheon Hospital around 11 a.m. She is the 14th confirmed case in the area.

Based on the epidemiological investigation from the confirmed patient's statement, the woman finished early voting for the 21st general election at 5:07 p.m. on the 11th and between 6:50 p.m. and 7:10 p.m., she talked for about 15 to 20 minutes on the street with a woman in her 60s living in the same area before returning home. It is known that they were wearing masks during the conversation.

The next day, the woman experienced symptoms such as sore throat and runny nose and stayed at home. On the 13th, when the woman she had talked to was confirmed as the 12th case in the area, she was classified as a contact. On the 14th, she was tested for COVID-19 at home and confirmed positive that day. So far, only one child has been identified as a contact. Health authorities have disinfected the woman’s home and travel routes and are conducting further epidemiological investigations to identify additional contacts.

Meanwhile, the 12th confirmed case in the area was classified as a contact after her husband tested positive at the screening clinic of Hanyang University Hospital in Guri on the 11th and was confirmed positive after testing the following day.