The number of patients with novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19) from detention centers quickly exceeded 500. It is the largest infection in a single facility. Even though the index patient (the first patient) came out last month, a full investigation was conducted only recently, and some point out that the procrastination of the response was an anger.
Complete investigation on the 18th and 23rd of this month after the first patient was confirmed on the 28th of last month
Management review divided into hospitals and saengchisen according to the severity of confirmed cases
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the 26th, the number of infected people related to the Eastern Detention Center in Seoul increased to 520 as of 0 o’clock on the day. The largest number of prisoners was 479, followed by workers (20), family (20), acquaintances (1).
The appearance of the Dongbu Detention Center in Seoul on the morning of the 25th. yunhap news
Authorities are believed to have preached to their families first after the test takers were first confirmed on the 27th of last month, and it is believed that the family spread sequentially to fellow employees and detainees at the eastern detention center where they work, and to their families and acquaintances again. . It is also possible that the virus has spread from asymptomatic new prisoners.
Experts believe that the Dongbu Detention Center is a place where there is a great concern that the virus will spread rapidly once the virus penetrates due to factors such as apartment-type building structure, indoor life, and high density. It was overcrowded, with more prisoners staying than the garden, authorities said. Yoon Tae-ho, head of the Central Accident Control Headquarters, said at a briefing on the 25th, “The capacity of the eastern detention center is about 2070, but as of the 13th, 2412 people are imprisoned.” Unlike other correctional facilities that have a playground where you can do outdoor activities, this detention center may have created a favorable environment for the spread of the virus as all activities are conducted indoors.
Although the detention center is inevitable to be vulnerable to group infection, it took about a month to conduct a full investigation twice on the 18th and 23rd after the indicator patients were identified (last month 28), indicating whether the spread in the facility was increased. Comes out. When the first patient was discovered, it was necessary to quickly conduct a thorough investigation with a rapid antigen kit. In the full survey on the 18th, about 180 people were infected, and in the total survey on the 23rd, close to 300 people were infected.
The authorities explained that immediately after the outbreak of the confirmed case, the test was first conducted on those with high risk of infection, such as close contacts, and that the size of the target has been expanded as it was recognized that the range of transmission was wide in the process.
On the afternoon of the 23rd, officials in protective clothing are moving busily at the Seoul Eastern Detention Center in Songpa-gu, Seoul. Newsis
At a briefing on the 26th, Park Young-joon, head of the epidemiological investigation team, said, “We have classified contact and exposure persons according to the guidelines, and have been continuously inspecting the subjects.” Team leader Park said, “In this process, additional transmission was confirmed, and the necessity to expand (test) overall was confirmed, and a full test was performed once every 18th.” “We tested all inmates twice in the day.”
Is there any possibility of further spreading from detention centers to local communities? In this regard, Taeho Yoon said, “Because the Eastern detention center is a matter that is already managed within the quarantine network, it is not a part that is further spread to the local community.” However, concerns cannot be ruled out as more than a month has passed since the identification of indicator patients. Further infections can be confirmed in prisoners who travel to courts for trial or in employees who have continued their daily activities after commuting.
The authorities are currently moving about 170 voiced voices among the exposed people to other correctional facilities in order to reduce the density in the eastern detention center. They are undergoing additional tests, but an additional detainee who has been allotted to Sokcho has been confirmed.
The confirmed patients will be separated into hospitals and life treatment centers in the future, and will be transferred and treated. Jeong Eun-kyung, head of the Bangdae Headquarters (Disease Management Administration), said, “Since those in detention centers need to be isolated and secured at the same time, we are preparing to organize and operate a life treatment center separately.” He said, “We are setting up a plan to operate a life treatment center by securing a separate place for those who can take care of it as a hospital and manage it at the life treatment center.” In this regard, the government is considering designating and operating the second prison in North Gyeongsang Province in Cheongsong-gun as a life treatment center. After transferring the existing prisoners to another correctional institution, they will move the confirmed patients of the Eastern Detention Center to this place for treatment.
Reporter Hwang Soo-yeon [email protected]