MERS quarantine lifted in Sunchang, releasing 226 in 14 days

A nurse checks a resident of Sunchang, North Jeolla Province for fever, Friday. The Ministry of Health and Welfare lifted a quarantine order on the region 14 days after a woman was confirmed to have been infected with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). / Yonhap

By Lee Kyung-min

The government Friday the lifted quarantine order for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) on a village in Sunchang, North Jeolla Province, releasing 226 residents after 14 days.

“We decided to lift the order as no additional confirmed case has been reported since the quarantine measure was introduced on June 5,” a Ministry of Health and Welfare official said. “The 14-day incubation period has safely passed.”

The quarantine came a day after a female patient, 72, who died on June 12, was confirmed to have the disease on June 4.

She was the first patient in North Jeolla Province to have contracted and died from the disease, according to the ministry.

Before coming home to Sunchang, she had contracted the virus at St. Mary’s Hospital in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, the first epicenter of the outbreak that reported 36 confirmed cases.

During eight days of treatment there, she shared a hospital room with the first confirmed patient, who was hospitalized from May 15-17, before being confirmed on May 20.

Before the infection, she was undergoing treatment for cystitis, which had made her immune system significantly weaker, the ministry said.

Residents there had been under close observation for the past two weeks for fear of possibly spreading the virus following close contact with the woman.

More than 50 people reportedly had spent substantial hours talking to her before her confirmation test came back positive, the ministry said.

The 14-day quarantine order included a complete ban on outdoor activities, which meant many residents had their livelihood shut down.

Residents expressed relief following the lifting of the quarantine.

“It was an imprisonment,” a resident in the province said. “We could not leave our houses. Visiting neighbors upstairs or downstairs were all banned. It was a complete nightmare.”

Resuming work to maintain their livelihoods is another financial relief for residents. Most derive their income from agriculture.

“Fruits we did not reap will go to waste for sure,” another resident said. “But we are gratified that it is over now.”

Day laborers have also lost income that will not be recovered.

“I had bills to pay, and I couldn’t work because of the government order,” one said. “Now I will have to work twice as much, but I’m more relieved than frustrated.”

The temporary suspension of schools was also lifted as of Friday. A total of 24 schools were shut down.

Meanwhile, a similar quarantine order in Gimje for 184 residents is scheduled to be lifted Saturday, the ministry said.

“With the order on Gimje lifted, the epidemic will likely show a significant decrease,” a ministry official said.

Expressing cautious optimism, the ministry said continuing monitoring was still their priority until the epidemic dies down completely.

The province has reported three confirmed patients, but no additional cases have been reported since last week.