GS HomeShopping closed over employee’s coronavirus infection

Feb 07, 2020, 08:54 am

By AsiaToday reporter Lee Sun-young

South Korea confirmed four more cases of novel coronavirus infections Thursday, bringing the total to 23, with three cases being family members and acquaintance of patients already confirmed to have been infected with the virus. As secondary and tertiary infections are emerging, closedown measures on the workplaces and residences of confirmed patients are taking place.

As of Thursday at 8 a.m., the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) confirmed four more cases of infection.

The 20th patient is a 41-year-old Korean woman who is a family member of the 15th patient. She tested positive for the virus on Wednesday and is now being quarantined at the Korean Armed Forces Capital Hospital. The 21st case is a 59-year-old woman who came into contact with the country’s sixth patient. She is in quarantine at Seoul National University Hospital.

The 22nd patient is a 46-year-old Korean man who is a family member of the 16th patient. He was tested postivie for the virus on Thursday. The 23rd case is a 58-year-old Chinese woman who arrived in South Korea on January 23 from Wuhan. She is now being quarantined at National Medical Center.

Concerns about secondary and tertiary infections are rising as the three new confirmed patients are family members and acquaintances of previously confirmed patients. As a result, the confirmed patients’ workplaces and residences have been closed or temporarily shut down. GS HomeShopping closed down its headquarters from Thursday through Saturday as the 20th patient is its staff member. Helio City Apartments, where the 19th patient resides, closed down its apartment community building.

To date, 23 cases have been confirmed with 169 people in self-quarantine undergoing testing for the virus. There are over 1,000 people who may have come in contact with infected people in self-quarantine.

South Korea has decided to discharge its 1st confirmed patient – the 35-year-old Chinese woman – from a hospital. The patient was found to have fever when she arrived at Incheon International Airport on Jan. 19 and was diagnosed with the virus on Jan. 20. She has made a full recovery since then and tested negative for the virus.

On the other hand, the government will expand the scope of those being tested for the virus starting on Friday. Under the new rule, anyone who has visited China or other countries with confirmed patients in the past 14 days and shows symptoms such as fever or respiratory issues can be classified as a “suspected case” and be subject to testing.

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