S. Korea: Hospital chief contracts COVID-19; vice health minister in self-isolation

Lee Yeong-sang (center), president of the Bundang Jesaeng Hospital, briefs reporters on the latest infections at his hospital on March 6, a day after a coronavirus patient was first reported there. (Yonhap) via The Korea Herald

SEOUL — A hospital chief who is part of South Korea’s central coronavirus response team was diagnosed with the novel coronavirus on Wednesday, forcing a number of officials into self-isolation, including Vice Health Minister Kim Gang-lip.

Lee Yeong-sang, president of the Bundang Jesaeng Hospital, has tested positive for COVID-19, officials said. He has overseen countermeasures to contain the virus that sickened 30 patients so far at his hospital in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province

The hospital’s first COVID-19 patient was identified on March 5. A number of medical staff, patients and their family members, as well as a visitor, have since tested positive.

Upon Lee’s diagnosis, Vice Minister Kim and several other officials at the Health Ministry went into self-isolation. Lee earlier attended a meeting of major hospital chiefs that Kim chaired on March 13 to discuss countermeasures against the pandemic.

Seongnam Mayor Eun Su-mi and several city officials were tested for the virus, as they had met with Lee and other members of the hospital staff on March 6. The results were still pending as of press time.

Lee reportedly wore a face mask while supervising the anti-virus measures at his hospital and complained of coughing and a runny nose before testing positive.