Updates on COVID-19 in Republic of Korea

26 August 2020

□ As of 0:00, 26 August 2020, the total number of confirmed cases is 18,265 (including 2,763 imported cases), of which 14,368 cases have been discharged from isolation. There are 307 new local cases, 13 new imported cases, and 2 new death.

□ Major local clusters as of 12:00 today (26 August):

* The specific figures below may differ from the daily reported statistics or figures disclosed by local municipalities due to factors such as report timing and differences in the time period considered

○ Related to Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul City, 18 additional cases were confirmed from contact investigation. In total, 933 cases have been confirmed.

  - 874 cases total in capital area (Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi)

  - 59 cases total in other areas (Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, Gangwon, Chungbuk, Chungnam, Jeonbuk, Gyeongbuk, Gyeongnam)

  - To date, 130 confirmed cases of further transmissions from Sarang Jeil Church have been found related to 23 venues. Transmission is likely ongoing. Epidemiological investigation is underway of 186 facilities to prevent further transmission.

○ Related to August 15 Seoul rally, 26 additional cases were confirmed from investigation. In total, 219 cases have been confirmed.

  - Cases with no relation to Sarang Jeil Church found according to basic investigation; may change with new findings in further investigation

○ Related to Muhan 9roup, 3 additional cases were confirmed from contact investigation including 2 in Suncheon-si, Jeonnam Province. In total, 47 cases have been confirmed.

○ Related to a real estate auction firm (Darae Auction) in Jung-gu, Seoul City, 4 additional cases were confirmed during contact investigation. In total, 16 cases have been confirmed. Investigation is underway.

○ Related to Galilee Church in Bupyeong-gu, Incheon City, 5 additional cases were confirmed from contact investigation. In total, 46 cases have been confirmed.

○ Related to Lord’s Church in Seo-gu, Incheon City, first case was confirmed on 22 August and 29 additional cases were confirmed. In total, 30 cases have been confirmed.

○ Related to a group trip from Gimhae-si, Gyeongnam Province, first case was confirmed on 25 August and 8 additional cases were confirmed. Four families in Gimhae-si took a two-day trip to Hwasun and Naju, coming in close contact such as eating together. Further investigation is underway. In total, 9 cases have been confirmed.

○ Related to a public bath in Jin-gu, Busan City, first case was confirmed on 23 August and 6 additional cases were confirmed. In total, 7 cases have been confirmed. Investigation is underway.

□  Imported cases as of 0:00, 26 August:

○ 13 new imported cases

- 3 were confirmed at the point of entry and 10 were confirmed in the community while in mandatory self-quarantine after arrival

- 7 Korean nationals and 6 foreign nationals

○ Infection acquisition location (presumed):

  - Asia excluding China: Uzbekistan 3, Kazakhstan 2, Bangladesh 1, Saudi Arabia 1

  - Americas : US 1, Guatemala 1, Mexico 1

  - Africa : Nigeria 1, Ethiopia 1, Egypt 1

□  Epidemiological investigation results of recent cases related to publicly used facilities:

○ Paju Starbucks

- 66 cases (28 facility users and 38 further transmissions)

- No natural ventilation through windows, with ceiling air conditioners on

- Highly crowded

- Index case stayed for 2 hours, had conversation with others while drinking, with insufficient mask wearing

- All staff members were wearing masks (4 staff members, 0 confirmed)

- No confirmed cases among around 60 first floor users

- 26 cases confirmed among 120 second floor users (21.7% positivity rate)

○ Anyang-si snack bar

- Restaurant A:

▴9 cases (3 staff and 6 further transmissions)

▴Index case continued to work for a long time while being infectious, transmitting to coworkers

- Restaurant B: 12 cases (7 facility users and 5 onward transmissions)

▴12 cases (7 staff and 5 further transmissions)

▴No windows, 1 entrance

▴Natural ventilation insufficient during air conditioning

▴Index case stayed for 3 hours, had conversation and meal with insufficient mask wearing

▴Visitors entered with mask on but did not have mask on while eating and conversing

▴All staff had mask on at all times

○ Lotteria managerial staff meeting

- 23 cases (13 facility users and 10 further transmissions)

- Indoor natural ventilation insufficient

- Insufficient physical distancing inside restaurant

- Index case stayed for 2 hours, had conversation and meal with insufficient mask wearing

○ Gangnam-gu coffee house and Yangjae-dong restaurant

- Coffee house

▴5 cases (2 facility users and 3 further transmissions)

▴8 people including index case had conversation within 1 meter of each other

▴Had a meeting with insufficient mask wearing for 1 hour

- Restaurant

▴Natural ventilation insufficient inside small restaurant

▴Index case stayed for 1 hour, had conversation and meal with others with insufficient mask wearing

▴Staff came in frequent contact with users with insufficient mask wearing

○ Findings:

- With summer heat waves, air conditioning use increased and proper ventilation did not take place.

- Physical distancing was not followed with increase in customers

- Facility users did not have mask on while conversing, even while not drinking or eating

- Most staff members were not affected due to correct mask wearing

□  KCDC shared results of further analysis of nucleic acid sequences of viruses detected from 129 samples (10-20 August; 105 local cases and 24 imported cases) of COVID-19 patients.

○ WHO classifies COVID-19 virus as S, V, L, G, GH, GR clades according to nucleic acid sequence, based on the amino acid mutation

○ Globally, clades S and V were widespread until early April. Since then, G, GR, and GH have been spreading widely. GR is more widespread in Africa, India, and Russia. GH is more widespread in North America, Europe, and the Middle East.

○ In Korea, S and V were majority before early April but are no longer detected since May. Since the Itaewon clubs and Yeocheon clusters, GH has been most commonly detected.

- Clades vary for imported and imported related cases depending on presumed country of origin but GH and GR have been detected.

□  KCDC shared result of inspection related to municipal governments’ practice regarding disclosure of information related to confirmed cases of COVID-19 and asked to be careful not to disclose information that is not essential to infection prevention and control purposes.

○ From inspection (29 July to 31 July), 35 information disclosure cases were not in compliance with the guidelines:

▴In 19 cases, age or gender of confirmed case was disclosed

▴In 11 cases, information had not been taken down after the disclosure period had expired

▴In 3 cases, address was disclosed

○ Only information relevant to prevention of infectious diseases need to be disclosed, in consideration of protection of privacy of confirmed cases.

○ Disclosing excessive information related to confirmed cases can cause distrust in the community and cause people to avoid getting tested in fear of privacy invasion, stigma, or discrimination.

○ KCDC asks municipal governments as well as journalists, personal blogs, and online portal sites to follow the guidelines on confirmed case information disclosure and delete information after the disclosure period expires.

□  Social Distancing Level 2 has been extended to the whole nation effective 24 August. KCDC reminds the public that compliance with infection prevention measures and participation in social distancing efforts is the most important to stopping the spread of COVID-19.

IMPORTED CONFIRMED CASES

NEW CASES (LAST 2 WEEKS) BY CHAIN OF TRANSMISSION