Bank branch closes after workers get flu
Published: 25 Sep. 2009, 23:12
The Nambu Terminal branch of Shinhan Bank in southern Seoul was shut down temporarily yesterday after six of its employees were confirmed as A(H1N1) influenza patients, said the nation’s second-largest lender. It’s thought to be the first time in the world a bank has closed because of the new flu, according to related sources.
The bank said the six workers at the branch probably caught the virus from a customer.
Customers were advised to go to other branches nearby.
Three other employees at the branch are awaiting test results.
“We expect to experience confusion temporarily, but the decision has been based on the principle that customers’ health and safety is the top priority,” said the bank in a statement. “We believe customers will understand, although it might be somewhat inconvenient.”
The first-ever “coming-out” of a local lender regarding the influenza that has killed 11 so far in Korea is expected to have a wide impact on the local financial industry. Despite rumors that some bank workers have been infected with the flu, financial firms are thought to have been reluctant to release information for fear of worrying customers.
The Financial Services Commission, the nation’s top financial watchdog, said it had received no report of confirmed infections among financial workers. “There is a high chance that not only bank tellers but also insurance policy sales people and securities investment advisors, who have great exposure to a large number of customers, can catch the [new] flu. But we haven’t seen any reports so far,” said an FSC spokesman. “It seems companies have remained silent out of concern that a confirmed case will deal a blow to their sales. But we expect to see reports starting next week, following in the footsteps of Shinhan.”
At Incheon International Airport, 40 workers have been confirmed as
A(H1N1) patients, and 290 are undergoing tests. There are four bank branches inside the airport.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health said yesterday it found HSBC Korea had procured 1,000 doses of Tamiflu, an antiviral medicine, in June and has provided the drug to its workers who make overseas business trips.
The top health authority has launched an investigation to see if there was any illegality in the prescription for the medication en masse. Under Korean medical law, it’s illegal for a doctor to issue a prescription without checking the patient in person.
The British lender said it obtained the prescription from a local hospital and bought the drug from pharmacies on the condition it returned unused drugs. It added that their workers did not visit hospitals in person for the prescription.
By Seo Ji-eun [[email protected]]
The bank said the six workers at the branch probably caught the virus from a customer.
Customers were advised to go to other branches nearby.
Three other employees at the branch are awaiting test results.
“We expect to experience confusion temporarily, but the decision has been based on the principle that customers’ health and safety is the top priority,” said the bank in a statement. “We believe customers will understand, although it might be somewhat inconvenient.”
The first-ever “coming-out” of a local lender regarding the influenza that has killed 11 so far in Korea is expected to have a wide impact on the local financial industry. Despite rumors that some bank workers have been infected with the flu, financial firms are thought to have been reluctant to release information for fear of worrying customers.
The Financial Services Commission, the nation’s top financial watchdog, said it had received no report of confirmed infections among financial workers. “There is a high chance that not only bank tellers but also insurance policy sales people and securities investment advisors, who have great exposure to a large number of customers, can catch the [new] flu. But we haven’t seen any reports so far,” said an FSC spokesman. “It seems companies have remained silent out of concern that a confirmed case will deal a blow to their sales. But we expect to see reports starting next week, following in the footsteps of Shinhan.”
At Incheon International Airport, 40 workers have been confirmed as
A(H1N1) patients, and 290 are undergoing tests. There are four bank branches inside the airport.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health said yesterday it found HSBC Korea had procured 1,000 doses of Tamiflu, an antiviral medicine, in June and has provided the drug to its workers who make overseas business trips.
The top health authority has launched an investigation to see if there was any illegality in the prescription for the medication en masse. Under Korean medical law, it’s illegal for a doctor to issue a prescription without checking the patient in person.
The British lender said it obtained the prescription from a local hospital and bought the drug from pharmacies on the condition it returned unused drugs. It added that their workers did not visit hospitals in person for the prescription.
By Seo Ji-eun [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts.
Standards Board Policy (0/250자)