The updates of COVID-19 in Korea 

(As of 29 Feb. 2020) 

○ Compared to yesterday morning (09:00, 29 February, 2020), 909 additional cases are confirmed, which brings the total number of confirmed cases to 2,931 with 1,559 cases. 53,608 turned out to be negative and 29,154 are currently being tested.

* The 63th case, a Korean female born in 1968

** 3 deceased cases (Female born in 1950, Female born in 1926, Female born in 1957) in Daegu have occurred

○ Including 990 newly confirmed cases, the total of 2,931 cases are classified by the regions as follows.

○ Most of cases at ‘special management area’ are associated with Shinchenji Daegu religious sect. It is assuming that 1,356 cases in Daegu and 133 cases in Gyeongbuk are related to Shinchenji religious sect. KCDC will continue to conduct further investigation in cooperation with relevant local governments.

○ Among the Cheongdo Daenam hospital-related, 2 additional cases who were in quarantine are confirmed, which brings the total number of confirmed cases to 119. 24 out of 36 people who are in hospitalized and having a mild symptom got tested negative. 21 out of 29 who were transferred to the National center for Mental Health got tested negative as well.

○ KCDC said it is time to concentrate the medical resource and facilities on people with underlying diseases and senior citizens to minimize the deceased cases.

[The status of death cases]

○ According to the epidemiological characteristics of death cases in Korea, it consists of 10 male(62.5%) and 6 female (37.5%). By age group, 3 cases(18.6%) are in 70s, 6 cases (37.5%) are in 60s, and 5 cases in 50s. All the decreased cases are identified with having the underlying diseases. Especially, 7 Cheongdo Daenam hospital- related cases seemed to have affected the long-term hospitalization in a mental ward, resulting in poor health. The cause of death will be confirmed based on death review with the Central clinical committee.

○ KCDC asked to local government and health facilities to focus on test and treatment, especially for those aged 65 and with underlying disease who needed early detection and treatment. Also, KCDC stressed the monitoring of capacities on test, quarantines and treatment in case of the possibility of community transmission.

○ In case of newly confirmed cases, the association with Shincheonji religious sect will be checked as the priority. And KCDC recommends to carry out the initial epidemiological investigation and public health measure thoroughly to minimize the community transmission which has no evidence to related confirmed cases through chains of transmission.

○ KCDC recommends to civil people to keep the personal hygiene and practice ‘social distancing’ until the beginning of March, an important point of this outbreak.