Updates on COVID-19 in Republic of Korea

23 July, 2020

□ As of 0:00, 23 July 2020, the total number of confirmed cases is 13,938 (including 2,145 imported cases), of which 12,758 cases have been discharged from isolation. There are 39 new local cases, 20 new imported cases, and 0 new deaths.

[ Local transmission cases, as of 0:00, 23 July (cumulative since 3 January 2020) ]

[ Imported cases, as of 0:00, 23 July (cumulative since 3 January 2020) ]

※ Americas: US 9

   Europe: UK 1

   Asia ex-China: Russia 5, Uzbekistan 3, Kazakhstan 1, Tajikistan 1

[ Case management status*, as of 0:00, 23 July (cumulative since 3 January 2020) ] 

 * Based on case data reported to the KCDC

※ Figures subject to correction based on findings from epidemiological investigations

[ Overall case and test status, as of 0:00, 23 July (cumulative since 3 January 2020) ]

* Based on case data reported to the KCDC

※ Figures subject to correction based on findings from epidemiological investigations

□ The current state* of major local clusters as of today (as of 12:00, 23 July) 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

○ Related to the Gangseo Central Day Care Center in Gangseo-gu, Seoul City, 5 additional cases (1 facility user, 4 acquaintances) were confirmed. In total, 20* cases have been confirmed.

* facility users = 13 cases, facility users’ family members = 3 cases, acquaintances = 4 cases

○ Related to a financial firm in Gangnam-gu, Seoul City, 1 additional case was confirmed when the individual was tested prior to release from quarantine. In total, 9* cases have been confirmed.

* employees = 4, family members and acquaintances = 5

○ Related to the Love Church in Songpa-gu, Seoul City, 4 additional cases were confirmed. In total, 8* cases (all church members) have been confirmed.

* Risk factors: repeated exposure from individual attending service after developing symptoms, improper mask wearing, singing, choir meetings, dining together

○ Related to a military garrison in Gyeonggi-do, Pocheon City, 4 additional cases (1 soldier, 2 unit instructors for education and consulting, 1 family member of instructor) were confirmed. In total, 17* cases have been confirmed. It is suspected that the instructors transmitted onto others in the garrison. The military and Gyeonggi provincial authorities are conducting a joint epidemiological investigation regarding 4 additional garrisons that the instructors visited.

* soldiers = 14, instructors = 2, instructor’s family members = 1

Risk factors: improper mask wearing

○ Related to the door-to-door sales group in Gwangju City, 2 additional cases were confirmed (T WORLD phone store related) when tested prior to release from quarantine. In total, 150 cases have been confirmed.

○ Related to a family in Gwangju City, 6 additional cases were confirmed after the index case was confirmed on July 22. In total, 7* cases have been confirmed. Investigation is underway for possible connections with past clusters, such as the Gwangju door-to-door sales cluster.

* family members = 4, acquaintances = 3

□ As of 0:00, 23 July, there were 20 imported cases, of which 5 were confirmed at the point of entry, and 15 were confirmed in the community while in mandatory self-quarantine after arrival. The 20 cases consisted of 5 Korean nationals and 15 foreign nationals.

○ The (presumed) location of infection acquisition of the 20 new imported cases are: Americas (9) (US 9), Europe (1) (UK 1), and Asia excluding China (10) (Russia 5, Uzbekistan 3, Kazakhstan 1, Tajikistan 1).

○ To date, of the 2,145 total imported cases, 46.7% (1,002 cases) were confirmed at the point of entry through diagnostic testing, and were subsequently isolated to prevent local community transmission.

- The 1,143 imported cases that were confirmed in the community were tested and isolated within 3 days after entry to prevent local community transmission.

□ KCDC shared updates on preparation for a second domestic COVID-19 antibody titer survey.

○ The second batch of excess serums (578 serums, as of 15 July 2020) from the 2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, including serums from Daegu, Daejeon, and Sejong, have been collected. Once additional serums have been collected, antibody titer survey results will be compiled around late August.

- A separate antibody titer survey of 3,300 individuals in the Daegu and Gyeongsan areas is planned to take place in August.

□ KCDC asked the public to actively use the Safety Sinmungo Report program run by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, to report any risk factors related to preventing transmission of COVID-19.

○ 1,273* reports have been submitted through the Safety Sinmungo Report from 1 July to 22 July. Guideline infraction reports, accounting for 705 (55.4%) of the reports, was the most common.

- Recent incident reports included:

▴50-60 members of a music club drinking and practicing music without wearing masks in a closed underground space for a whole night, risking transmission

▴A movie theatre not maintaining a visitor’s log and disregarding distancing guidelines in seat arrangement

○ The transmission of COVID-19 can occur in all closed, crowded, and close-contact spaces. Therefore, it is asked that individuals cancel social gatherings and meetings or conduct them in a non-face-to-face manner, while following COVID-19 guidelines, including social distancing (2m or more).

○

KCDC asked the public to actively report COVID-19 risk factors, including guideline infractions, to the Safety Sinmungo application or portal.

□ As the executive action mandating COVID-19 prevention guideline adherence to churches nationwide (limits on assembly) will be lifted on 24 July at 18:00, KCDC asked that church leaders and church goers continue to voluntarily refrain from behaviors that increases the risk of infection, such as small group meetings, events and sharing meals, and follow COVID-19 prevention guidelines.

○ Face-to-face meetings and events, other than regular services, risk transmission to many people, and should be canceled or conducted in a non-face-to-face manner.

- During worship:

▴ Always wear a mask

▴ Maintain 2m distance

▴ Use instrumental versions of songs, rather than singing

▴ Do not share food or have group meals

□ In order to ensure that people have safe vacations in the upcoming holiday season, KCDC asked that the following guidelines be kept:

○ If you have COVID-19 symptoms, such as fever, cough, and sore throat, postpone or cancel your vacation, go see a doctor, and get tested

○ People going on vacation should:

▴Only be in small groups or family units

▴Avoid closed and crowded places, or busy hours

▴Preferably use personal vehicles

○ During vacation:

▴Always wear a mask when indoors

▴Minimize your time spent in rest areas, restaurants, and cafes

▴Maintain 2m distance or more with others

□ KCDC advised caution as water damage from the rainy season may also cause an increase of various waterborne and mosquito-borne infectious diseases.

○ Infectious diseases that mainly occur during the rainy season include:

- Waterborne infectious diseases transmitted by food and drink, such as bacterial heterogeneity, typhoid fever, enterohemorrhagic E. coli or norovirus infectious disease

- Malaria (in northern Gyeonggi area) and Japanese encephalitis, with increase in mosquitos

○ To prevent the major infectious diseases that occur in the rainy season, KCDC stressed that:

▴Food and drink should be thoroughly heated before consumption

▴Cooked food should not be kept for long

▴Individual hygiene such as handwashing is very important

[ Regional distribution and epidemiological links of the confirmed cases ]

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

TOTAL

Incheon City

Daejeon City

Gwangju City

[ Age distribution of severe cases ]

[Figure 4: New cases (for last 2 weeks) by chain of transmission]