78% of COVID-19 Deaths in Gyeonggi Province Related to Healthcare Facility and Long-term Care Facility Cluster Infections

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hun Reporter] 78% of COVID-19 deaths in Gyeonggi Province have been related to cluster infections at medical institutions and long-term care facilities, indicating that facility protection measures are urgently needed.
Lim Seung-gwan, co-head of Gyeonggi Province's COVID-19 Emergency Response Task Force (Director of Gyeonggi Province Medical Center Anseong Hospital), announced the results of epidemiological data analysis of Gyeonggi Province containing these details at a regular briefing on the 24th.

As of 0:00 on June 22, the cumulative confirmed cases in Gyeonggi Province totaled 1,125, with an average age of 44.6 years. By month, March had the highest number of confirmed cases at an average of 13.3 per day. Currently in June, the average is 13.0 per day, nearly approaching the March situation.
So far, 23 infected persons have died in Gyeonggi Province, recording a fatality rate of 2.04%. During the same period, 280 people died nationwide with a fatality rate of 2.24%, which is similar.

Of the total 23 deaths, 78.3%, or 18 people, were found to be associated with cluster outbreaks at medical institutions and long-term care facilities. Regarding the outbreak at a general hospital located in Seongnam City and Uijeongbu City, 31 hospitalized patients were infected and 9 died. Regarding the outbreak at long-term care facilities located in Gunpo City and Gwangju City, 24 elderly residents were infected and 9 died. Among 55 patients and residents infected at two medical institutions and two care facilities, 18 people, representing 32.7%, lost their lives. Consequently, the fatality rate for Gyeonggi Province residents in their 70s is 9.68% (6 deaths/62 confirmed cases), and for those 80 and older, the fatality rate is 26.53% (13 deaths/49 confirmed cases), with one in four dying.

Director Lim stated, "These results tell us where the key battlefield is in the fight against COVID-19. It is medical institutions and care facilities," and added "Like the 'vulnerable worker sick leave income loss compensation' system currently being implemented in Gyeonggi Province or the 'alternative workforce support project for social welfare facilities,' new policies are needed and sufficient resources must be allocated."
He continued, "While protecting medical institutions and care facilities from virus inflow and spread, securing medical resources for response following outbreak occurrence is also important," and emphasized "In particular, securing additional critical care beds is the key."

Accordingly, the province is currently running a program utilizing the critical care unit space at Gyeonggi Province Medical Center Anseong Hospital. It is a cooperation model where public hospitals provide space and the government and local private medical institutions dispatch specialized medical personnel. Gyeonggi Province has allocated a total budget of approximately 499 million won to more securely reinforce the facilities where medical personnel will work, and has purchased numerous pieces of medical equipment for critical care treatment.

As of 0:00 on the 24th, there were 8 new confirmed cases in the province: 1 related to Seoul's LifeWay, 1 related to Seoul Geumcheon-gu's grain mill company, 2 from overseas, and 4 from community transmission. Epidemiological investigations are ongoing regarding the infection routes of 4 people whose paths are not clearly identified.
The number of confirmed cases in the province related to Seoul-based multi-level sales company LifeWay increased by 1 compared to 0:00 the previous day, totaling 56. The additional confirmed case was a contact of an already confirmed Seoul resident who had been in self-quarantine since June 19, and they visited the Love Kimbap restaurant together on June 5 and dined together at a restaurant located in Seoul's Gwangjin-gu on the 12th.
The number of confirmed cases in the province related to the grain mill company in Seoul's Geumcheon-gu increased by 1 compared to 0:00 the previous day, totaling 6. The newly confirmed case is a child of an already confirmed grain mill company employee who had been in self-quarantine since June 18, and showed no particular symptoms.

Meanwhile, as of 0:00 on the 24th, Gyeonggi Province's confirmed cases increased by 8 compared to 0:00 the previous day, totaling 1,138.(nationwide 12,535) Of the confirmed cases in Gyeonggi Province, 761 have been discharged, and currently 354 are isolated at hospitals and life treatment centers. As of 0:00 on the 24th, Gyeonggi Province has secured 580 confirmed patient treatment beds at a total of 15 hospitals, and currently 346 beds, representing 59.7%, are in use.