Mayor Yeom Tae-young Orders "Comprehensive Inspection of Facilities with Risk of Cluster Infections"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] With multiple confirmed cases at Facility A Nursing Home in Ingyeong-dong, Suwon, Mayor Yeom Tae-young instructed on the 9th: "Conduct comprehensive on-site inspections of all nursing homes and schools as well as facilities with potential risks of cluster infections, and immediately take corrective measures if problems are identified."

Mayor Yeom stated at a 'COVID-19 Response Status Review Meeting' held at the City Hall Disaster and Safety Situation Room on the day: "The cluster infection of COVID-19 at Facility A Nursing Home reveals blind spots in our quarantine system. Thoroughly verify the on-site conditions to determine whether any parts were overlooked during previous inspections, and establish measures to prevent cluster infections from occurring again."

Mayor Yeom Tae-young further emphasized: "We are currently facing the largest crisis since COVID-19 outbreak. As the pandemic prolongs, some aspects have become lax, so we must maintain vigilance and manage the quarantine system more rigorously."

As of 9 a.m. on the 9th, there are 16 confirmed cases related to Facility A Nursing Home where the cluster infection occurred. Six are staff members and ten are residents.

After Suwon case No. 434, an employee at the nursing home, tested positive for COVID-19 on the 8th, the city conducted full-scale testing on 51 people, including 22 staff members and 29 residents.

Of these, 15 tested 'positive' on the 9th. With 2 cases 'pending,' the number of confirmed cases may increase depending on retest results. Facility A Nursing Home was immediately placed under cohort isolation.

Among the 15 cases, 10 residents and 1 staff member are awaiting hospital bed assignments at the nursing home, while 4 staff members are awaiting bed assignments from home. Until beds are assigned, confirmed residents will be accommodated in nursing home patient rooms, and one confirmed staff member will be isolated in an empty room at the facility.

On the 9th, the city plans to conduct in-depth epidemiological investigations on five confirmed staff members and classify contacts. On the 11th, the city plans to conduct diagnostic testing again on nursing home staff and residents.

Meanwhile, the city is conducting comprehensive inspections on the 9th of high-risk facilities such as nursing homes, long-term care hospitals, and adult day care centers where vulnerable populations reside. Additionally, the city plans to review and implement 'movement restriction orders for high-risk facility workers.'

The city has been enforcing a complete ban on in-person visits to high-risk facility residents. Furthermore, the city has repeatedly announced quarantine guidelines to high-risk facility workers to ▲refrain from using public transportation ▲comply with personal quarantine rules ▲report to management and prohibit facility access if any symptoms appear, and has requested compliance.

On the 9th, the city strongly requested 'compliance with quarantine rules' once more to all high-risk facility workers. It also urged household members to immediately report to facility management if they have any unusual symptoms.

Starting the 10th, the city plans to begin 'rapid antigen testing' on high-risk facility residents and workers, which can confirm results in 15 minutes. Using the rapid antigen testing method allows for quick confirmation of test results.