The number of bacterial dysentery patients continued to rise Friday with the Ministry of Health and Welfare's National Health Institute announcing that a further 27 patients had been diagnosed bringing the total to 243. The institute also said that it was monitoring a further 53 possible pre-dysentery patients in the Severance Hospital's Shinchon Site (8), the hospital's Yeongdong Site (28), Seobu, Eunpyong, Seocho, and Seodaemun police offices (6), and in Geunhwa Elementary School, Gangwon, Chuncheon province (7), making the total number of potential cases 970 as of December 14. In addition, the first round of examinations by health centers nationwide has found 53 suspected cases of the disease. The NHI issued secondary infection warning as employees of luxury hotels in Seoul showed pre-dysentery and dysentery symptoms. The health authority ordered hotel employees not to work in restaurants until they are cleared.