Updates on COVID-19 in Republic of Korea

18 May, 2020

○ Of the 15 new cases, 10 were imported cases and 5 were locally transmitted cases.

- 2 of the locally transmitted cases are related to the nightclub cluster.

  > 1 visitor to nightclubs/etc; 1 contact.

- 2 local cases are from Chungbuk Province.

  > Further investigation on the chain of transmission is underway.

- 1 local case is a contact of previous confirmed case.

○ 2 additional confirmed cases related to the clubs have been reported between 0:00 and 12:00 today, bringing the total related to the cluster to 170. Contact investigation and infection control measures are underway.

- By region: Seoul City=93, Gyeonggi Province=33, Incheon City=25, Chungbuk Province=9, Busan City=4, Daejeon=1, Chungnam Province=1, Jeonbuk Province=1, Gyeongnam Province=1, Gangwon Province=1, Jeju Province=1

- By chain of transmission: Club visitors=89; Contacts (family/acquaintance/coworkers/etc)=81

- By age group: [0-18]=17; [19-29]=102; [30-39]=27; [40-49]=11; [50-59]=6; [60+]=7

- Male=137; Female=33

○ Recent investigations have found that a confirmed case related to the cluster (club visitor) also visited a nightlife entertainment venue in Bucheon City area (in Gyeonggi Province). All persons who visited “MeritNight“ in Bucheon City between 23:48 9 May to 0:34 10 May are requested to contact a local public health center or dial 1339 and get tested for COVID-19.

○ KCDC asked anyone who visited any of the nightlife entertainment venues in Itaewon area including any clubs or bars from 24 April to 6 May to:

(1) Stay home and refrain from going to other places.

(2) Contact a local public health center or dial 1339 (KCDC call center).

(3) Visit a screening clinic and get tested, regardless of symptoms.

○ KCDC also emphasized that persons who work in education, places of worship, indoor sports/gym facilities, or other places that are used by many people should especially report to public health center if they have been exposed to above venues since their work environment creates a high risk of transmission.

○ Even if test result is negative, it is still possible for the person to have been infected but in the 14-day incubation period before the virus activates. Therefore, those who have been instructed to self-quarantine should strictly follow the self-quarantine protocol. Persons who are not subject to self-quarantine should still minimize contact with other people. They should carefully practice personal hygiene measures including mask wearing and hand washing, and get retested immediately if symptoms appear later.

○ Since 14 April, re-positive cases* have been managed with measures similar to those for confirmed cases, while further investigation, research and analysis on the cases continued. As KCDC announced the findings from the investigation and analysis and the conclusions of the advisory committee today, the protocols for the management of such cases will be revised accordingly.

(*cases testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 again after being discharged from isolation)

- Based on active monitoring, epidemiological investigation, and virological testing of re-positive cases and their contacts, no evidence was found that indicated infectivity of re-positive cases. Based on investigation of 790 contacts of the 285 re-positive cases, no case was found that was infected solely from contact with re-positive cases during re-positive period. Viral culture test results of 108 re-positive cases were all negative.

- 3 contacts of re-positive cases were newly confirmed. However, epidemiological studies cannot exclude the possibility of exposure to other infection sources, and viral culture result was negative from re-positive cases and their contacts. Therefore, it cannot be conclusively determined that the 3 cases were infected by re-positive cases.

- Based on the findings, KCDC has decided to stop using the current protocols for the management of confirmed cases after discharge from isolation and for the management of re-positive cases. Once the new revised protocols go into effect, the new protocols will also be applied to existing discharged/re-positive cases. Under the new protocols, no additional tests are required for cases that have been discharged from isolation. Therefore, employers or schools should not require discharged cases to provide a negative PCR test result in order to return to work or school after discharge from isolation.

- Reporting and investigation of re-positive cases and investigation of contacts of re-positive cases will be continued as before. However, based on experts’ recommendations, the terminology referring to such cases will be changed from “re-positive” to “PCR re-detected after discharge from isolation”.

- For further details, refer to “APPENDIX: FINDINGS FROM INVESTIGATION AND ANALYSIS OF RE-POSITIVE CASES” (attached as a separate document).

○ In light of the recent rise in local transmissions related to clubs, bars, karaoke rooms, and after-school private academies, KCDC urged people to refrain from social gathering or visiting any enclosed/confined/crowded spaces that are frequented by many people.

- People who cannot avoid visiting an enclosed/crowded space for an essential reason should carefully follow personal hygiene measures including keeping 2 meters of distance from other people, wearing a facemask, avoiding handshakes, washing hands, and not touching eyes, nose, or mouth with their hands.

- Persons belonging to high-risk groups (including elderly, pregnant women, persons with chronic illness) should especially avoid any poorly ventilated enclosed space frequented by many people. If such a situation cannot be avoided for an essential reason, it is highly important to wear a facemask.

○ Anyone who has come in close contact with a large number of unspecified persons in an enclosed/confined space such as clubs or bars need to be tested at a screening clinic through public health center or 1339 call center.

[Figure 1: Daily confirmed cases by chain of transmission]

       TOTAL