Virus spread via apartment vents unlikely: health authority
Ventilation systems are unlikely to be the transmission route of eight coronavirus cases detected at an apartment complex in Guro-gu, western Seoul, health authorities said Thursday, while saying it was looking into all possibilities.
Eight people residing in the same building have been confirmed to have contracted the virus since the first case was detected there on Aug. 23. They are from five households living both above and below the first patient’s apartment. Twenty more cases linked to the apartment cluster were reported as of Thursday.
Kwon Jun-wook, deputy director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters said the chance that the virus was transmitted through vents was slim.
“We haven’t completed epidemiological investigation yet but a patient who showed more developed symptoms than others was living in upper floors,” he said.
On Thursday, experts have begun an investigation into the apartment complex to identify the COVID-19 transmission route, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
According to Park Yoo-mi, the city’s director of public health, environmental specimen tests on 11 sites of the apartment including vents at kitchens and bathrooms, sewers and elevators are underway to discover paths of transmission of the coronavirus.
“The first field investigation is underway from 10 a.m. today to confirm the path of infection with epidemiological experts, construction experts, equipment experts, and the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Guro-gu district office,” she said during an online press briefing.
Park said there have been no reports of the virus spreading through vents in the country but the city will consider all possibilities while investigating the transmission route.
“A lot of evidence is needed to conclude that it was spread through a vent. It’s just one of several possible routes. Presuming the vents as the cause may be misleading,” a KCDC official said.
The apartment complex has 268 households and 500 residents.
Of some 436 residents who underwent testing at a makeshift testing center set up in front of the apartment by the city government, eight people, including the first case, tested positive.
Twenty more cases were detected at a livestock product processing company in Geumcheon-gu, where one of the apartment residents who tested positive works.
The city government classifies the cases involving the livestock product company as Guro-gu apartment-related cases but the chronological order of virus occurrence between the two sites has not been confirmed.
By Park Han-na (hnpark@heraldcorp.com)
(责任编辑:关于我们)
相关内容
- The OLED Burn
- 从1047亿元增至5800亿元!广东自贸试验区发布九周年成果
- It's Monday and you deserve this sexy Harry Potter boudoir shoot
- Russia beat Croatia to win third Davis Cup
- Netanyahu’s Inferno
- Amazon Android Days sale 2024: Save on unlocked phones, tablets, and more
- Barca to 'start from scratch' after Champions League exit
- 打卡珠海日月贝!这个夏天,海风和高州龙眼更配
- Rangnick starts Man Utd reign with win
- How do you make safe, cheap nuclear reactors? Bury them a mile deep
- Dog, sick and tired of waiting in car, slams his paw on the horn
- Korea, China, Japan vie in Thai arms market
- Politician quotes Dumbledore to make a point about Trump, nails it
推荐文章
-
Tesla Robotaxis aren't coming in August, it seems
A few months ago, Tesla CEO Elon Musk promised a Tesla Robotaxi unveiling in August. Now, a new repo ...[详细] -
South Korea plans to hold its first-ever governmental event with Macedonia this week, as the two sid ...[详细]
-
Politician quotes Dumbledore to make a point about Trump, nails it
There's no book more vital to a politician's repertoire than Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Ston ...[详细] -
South Korea plans to hold its first-ever governmental event with Macedonia this week, as the two sid ...[详细]
-
LG Display starts production of advanced OLED displays for gaming
A monitor equipped with LG Display's 27-inch 480Hz QHD Gaming OLED panel is on display. (LG Dis ...[详细] -
近日,华南农业大学植物保护学院“百千万工程”工作站下称“工作站”)在新会小鸟天堂国家湿地公园下称“小鸟天堂”)正式揭牌,这是该学院在省内设立的首个工作站。据了解,该工作站是在2022年成立的“华南农业 ...[详细]
-
Villagers stage protest against ricochets from U.S. Rodriguez firing range
A united group of villagers set fire to bundles of straw near the U.S. military firing range in Poch ...[详细] -
Spring in Mount Baekdu: A painting depicting spring scenery of Mount Baekdu is seen at the Tongilgak ...[详细]
-
Who is the Dark Wizard in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' Season 2?
Just when The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerreveals the identity of one mysterious wizard, it ...[详细] -
Watch Chloe Grace Moretz game alongside Rooster Teeth employees in new video series
LOS ANGELES -- Chloe Grace Moretz wants the world to know gaming isn't just for dudes.The actress te ...[详细]
热点阅读
随机内容
Our galaxy might crash into Andromeda. What would happen to Earth?
Dog, sick and tired of waiting in car, slams his paw on the horn
- Best smart home deals this week
- Regional powers sidestep history, choose 'practical' summit
- US top diplomat met with Kim Jong
- Secret Service shelled out $7,500 on golf carts this Thanksgiving
- Smiley face on Mars is a telltale sign of its past
- Gyeongsang men’s wives do more chores
- Donald Trump just retweeted anti