Updates on COVID-19 in Republic of Korea
1 September 2020

□ As of 0:00, 1 September 2020, the total number of confirmed cases is 20,182 (including 2,836 imported cases), of which 15,198 cases have been discharged from isolation. There are 222 new local cases, 13 new imported cases, and 0 new death.

□ Major local clusters as of 12:00 today (1 September):

* 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, 27 additional cases were confirmed from contact investigation. In total, 1,056 cases have been confirmed.

- 1,007 cases total in capital area (Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi)

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

- To date, 170 confirmed cases of further transmissions from Sarang Jeil Church have been found related to 26 venues. Investigation is underway.

○ Related to August 15 Seoul rallies, 20 additional cases were confirmed from investigation. In total, 419 cases have been confirmed.

- Rally related (179), further transmissions (161), police (8), under investigation (71)

- Including only cases with no known relation to Sarang Jeil Church according to basic investigation; may change with new findings in further investigation

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

- 195 cases total in other areas (Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, Daejeon, Ulsan, Gangwon, Chungbuk, Chungnam, Gyeongbuk, Gyeongnam)

- To date, 113 confirmed cases of further transmissions from August 15 rallies have been found related to 10 venues. Investigation is underway.

○ Related to Gwonneung Church in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul City, 5 additional cases were confirmed. In total, 34 cases have been confirmed.

- Index case (1), church members (16), family and friends (17)

- Includes 12 confirmed cases related to Ilisam Nursing Home in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi Province

○ Related to a fitness facility in Dobong-gu, Seoul City, first case was confirmed on 27 August and 6 additional cases were confirmed from contact investigation. In total, 7 cases have been found.

○ Related to a music lesson studio in Siheung-si, Gyeonggi Province, first case was confirmed on 29 August and 17 additional cases were confirmed from contact investigation. In total, 18 cases have been confirmed.

- Students (12), staff (1), family/friends (5)

○ Related to Nanum Nuriteo in Gwangmyeong-si, Gyeonggi Province, first case was confirmed on 27 August and 14 additional cases were confirmed from contact investigation. In total, 15 cases have been confirmed.

○ Related to Saebit Church in Yongin-si, Gyeonggi Province, first case was confirmed on 21 August and 14 additional cases were confirmed from contact investigation. In total, 15 cases have been confirmed. Investigation is underway.

○ Related to a gathering at an officetel in Yeonje-gu, Busan City, 2 additional cases were confirmed from contact investigation. In total, 10 cases have been confirmed.

○ Related to social gatherings in Nam-gu, Ulsan City, first case was confirmed on 30 August and 6 additional cases were confirmed from contact investigation. In total, 7 cases have been confirmed.

□ Imported cases as of 0:00, 1 September August:

○ 13 new imported cases

- 4 confirmed at the point of entry and 9 were confirmed in the community while in mandatory self-quarantine after arrival

- 6 Korean nationals and 7 foreign nationals

○ Infection acquisition location (presumed):

- Asia excluding China: Indonesia 3, Russia 2, Kazakhstan 1

- Europe: Turkey 1

- Americas: US 1, Brazil 1

- Africa: South Africa 2, Ghana 1, Algeria 1

□ Severe/critical cases and deaths:

○ 324 deaths total (cumulative)

○ 315 (97.2%) had underlying medical condition(s) such as hypertension or diabetes

○ 104 current severe/critical cases as of today

- 86 (82.7%) are aged 60 or above

- 13 (12.5%) are aged 50-59

- 5 (4.8%) are aged 40-49

○ Because of the higher risk of developing severe symptoms if infected with COVID-19, KCDC advises people aged 60 or above and people with underlying medical conditions to avoid going out as much as possible, wear masks, and get tested and treated as soon as possible if feeling suspected symptoms.

□ Remdesivir has been supplied to 155 patients in 35 hospitals.

□ National Institute of Health has received applications from 16 private sector institutions to use public Biosafety Level 3 facilities for COVID-19 vaccine and treatment research.

□ 276 more people (1,696 total) have signed up to donate their plasma for the development of COVID-19 convalescent plasma therapy. Plasma collection has been completed for 1,274 volunteers.

□ KCDC is sharing anonymized clinical epidemiological information of 5,500 confirmed COVID-19 patients in order to support clinical evidence-based disease response and accepting applications from interested institutions. 8 more institutions have been selected upon review.

○ The 8 institutions will be using the information to study

▴Neurological complications of COVID-19

▴Epidemiological characteristics and prognosis

▴COVID-19 infection rate and clinical progress in relation to women’s life cycle

□ COVID-19 vulnerable areas reported through Safety e-Report Sinmungo:

○ 1,862 reports were made through Safety e-Report, of which 1,289 of which were related to not following infection prevention guidelines

○ Reported examples:

- More than 50 people gathering in model house (confined indoor space) every weekend for gift raffle events

- Insurance agents (client-facing job) not wearing masks for daily morning meetings

○ 615 reports were made about violations of administrative measure during the last 3 days. 279 of them were related to church on-site services.

- Inspection of 2,839 churches last Sunday (30 August) found that most churches were having non-face-to-face services only in compliance with the measure. Gathering ban has been ordered for the 40 churches (1.4%) that were found to be in violation (hosting on-site service) of the measure.

- KCDC requests all churches to continue to follow the Social Distancing Level 2 guidelines and administrative measure in order to stop the spread of COVID-19.