The updates on the novel Coronavirus in Korea

○ As of 4 February, 2020, there has been 607 Patient Under Investigation(PUIs) with 16 confirmed cases, 462 cases already released after tested negative, and 129 cases currently being tested.

○ The 16th confirmed case is in isolation at Chonnam National University Hospital and the epidemiological investigation is on-going. All the other confirmed cases are in stable condition.

○ The contacts of the confirmed cases are 1,318 in total, five of which were confirmed. 45 contacts of the 1st confirmed case were all released from monitoring on 3 February.

○ The newly developed diagnostic will be available at the 50 designated health facilities from 7 February. The improved real-time PCR can detect the novel Coronavirus within six hours. This diagnostic has been used at Municipal and Provincial Government Public Health Institute of Health & Environment since 31 January.

○ With regard to the concerns on releasing whereabouts of the confirmed cases, KCDC states that it is to inform the people who might have in contact with the confirmed cases without notice so that they can monitor themselves for the onset of symptoms and take appropriate measures as early as possible. Furthermore, KCDC emphasizes once again that every place the confirmed cases visited has been disinfected, and they are safe to visit after disinfection is complete.