Side of Caution
Hotel Shilla, the luxury accommodation affiliate of Samsung Group, said on July 8 that it has decided to suspend its operations on the island of Jeju to prevent the spread of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).
The hotel said that its operation will not be resumed until a time when concerns over the possible further infections of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome are dispelled.
Hotel Shiila said it has asked its guests to leave the hotel on the island.
The announcement came after media reports that an unidentified person stayed at the hotel with eight members of his family between June 5 and 8 before he was confirmed to have been infected with the virus.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare said that it was tracing all those who have come in close contact with the patient.
The family members of the infected person returned to Seoul on a flight from Jeju International Port after having breakfast at the buffet restaurant of the hotel at eight o’clock. The patient said they did not use any other facilities than the buffet restaurant, swimming pool, and other restaurants in the hotel. It is known, however, that they also had dinners at outside restaurants.
The Samsung Group is under fire, as its hospital unit Samsung Medical Center has been blamed for nearly half of all the infections in the country.