Updates on COVID-19 in Republic of Korea

30 June 2020

□ As of 0:00, 30 June 2020, the total number of confirmed cases is 12,800 (including 1,583 imported cases), of which 11,537 cases have been discharged from isolation. There are 23 new local cases and 20 new imported cases.

□  The current state* of major local clusters as of today (as of 12:00, 30 June) are as follows:

* The specific figures below may differ from the daily reported statistics (which are based on figures as of 0:00 today) or figures disclosed by local municipalities due to factors such as report timing and differences in the time period considered

* Seoul = 24; Gyeonggi = 7 

○ Related to Lord Glory Church in Anyang-si, Gyeonggi Province, 1 additional case was confirmed. In total, 23* cases have been confirmed. Further investigation on 130 additional contacts related to workplace of confirmed case (Icheon-si, Gyeonggi Province) is underway.

* Seoul = 1; Gyeonggi = 22

○ Related to church member gathering in Suwon-si, Gyeonggi Province, based on epidemiological investigation, it is presumed that infection was acquired through contact between church members outside the church and transmitted to family or friends/acquaintances. 1 additional case was confirmed, bringing the total to 8 confirmed cases.

□ The (presumed) location of infection acquisition of the 20 imported cases are: America (3), Europe (1), Africa (2), Asia excluding China (14) (Kazakhstan=10; Pakistan=2; Afghanistan=1; Kuwait=1).

* Figures may change based on findings from ongoing local epidemiological investigation efforts

□  KCDC released epidemiological investigation findings regarding transmission characteristics of the recent church-related clusters and again advised caution.

Exposure from church outbreaks

unit: number of people

※ Information subject to change based on findings from ongoing local investigation

- Infections acquired through religious activities or gatherings were transmitted onward to various groups including care facilities for vulnerable populations.

- KCDC reminded of the importance of following infection prevention protocols in religious activities.

○ For COVID-19 infection prevention in religious facilities,

- canceling small group meetings or switching to non-face-to-face methods is recommended; and

- if on-site worship service is held, such facilities are requested to reduce the number of participants to ensure that participants keep proper distance from each other, check participants for fever and other symptoms, ensure hand washing and mask wearing, and

- make sure not to provide meals or engage in activities that release respiratory droplets in the air (such as singing, chanting, and shouting).

○ KCDC noted that forced actions may become necessary if infections continue to occur in religious facilities and asked religious communities for voluntary compliance with recommendations.

□ KCDC shared the progress on domestic COVID-19 antibody titer investigation.

○ Testing and investigation is in progress with antibody titer assay reagent on the 1,555 serum samples leftover from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of 2020 (samples collected 21 April – 19 June) and 1,500 samples from patients at hospitals in southwest area of Seoul City (samples collected 25-28 May).

- In the future, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey serum testing will be conducted every 2 months. Investigation of 1,000 samples from the general population in connection with health examinations in Daegu/Gyeongbuk region is planned in July or August of this year. Antibody titer investigation results will be disclosed after expert review.

□ KCDC expressed gratitude for the 18 additional people (bringing the total to 229) who signed up to donate their plasma for the development of COVID-19 plasma therapy and encouraged more eligible people to participate.

○ Plasma therapy requires a large amount of blood as it involves formulating a concentrated form of the antibodies and immunoglobulins from the blood of people who have recovered from COVID-19.

○ People aged 18-64 who have been confirmed with COVID-19, fully recovered, discharged (released) from isolation (at least 14 days ago) are able to participate.

* Participating hospitals: Korea University Ansan Hospital, Keimyung Unviersity Dongsan Hospital, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu Fatima Hospital / For inquiries, dial 1522-6487

□ KCDC recommended thorough hand washing and safe food consumption as the number of infectious diseases (including water-borne and mosquito-borne infectious diseases and skin diseases) may increase during the summer rainy season.

○ Water-borne infectious diseases common during rainy season include infections that spread through food, such as bacillary dysentery, typhoid fever, enterohemorrhagic E. coli, and norovirus.

○ Also, due to the increase in mosquitos during rainy season, there is a possibility of Japanese encephalitis occurring. People in the northern part of Gyeonggi Province should also watch out for malaria.

○ KCDC emphasized that thorough hand washing and personal hygiene are very important to prevention of major infectious diseases common in rainy season.

[Figure 3: Daily new confirmed cases by chain of transmission]

Incheon City

Daejeon City