Updates on COVID-19 in Republic of  Korea

8 July 2020

□ As of 0:00, 8 July 2020, the total number of confirmed cases is 13,224 (including 1,747 imported cases), of which 11,970 cases have been discharged from isolation. There are 30 new local cases, 33 new imported cases, and 0 new deaths.

□ The current state* of major local clusters as of today (as of 12:00, 8 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

     * Seoul = 30; Gyeonggi = 8

○ Related to an office (water heating pad related business) in Gangnam-gu, Seoul City, 1 visitor was additionally confirmed. Also, 4 previously confirmed cases whose source of infection was uncertain have been found to be linked to this cluster. In total, 11* cases have been confirmed related to this cluster.

  * directly related to office = 6; secondary transmission to family members, etc = 5

○ Related to door-to-door sales group in the Seoul metropolitan area (the cluster previously referred to as church member gathering in Suwon-si, Gyeonggi Province), 5 additional cases were confirmed. The new cases are 1 from Happy-rang Healing Center, at Gunpo-si, Gyeonggi-do, and 4 from Wondang Catholic Church, at Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do. In total, 30 cases have been confirmed.

   * Gyeonggi = 23; Incheon = 7

  * 28 June = 2 / 29 June = 1 / 2 July = 2 / 5 July = 1 / 7 July = 3

○ Related to the door-to-door sales group in Gwangju City (the cluster previously referred to as Gwangneuksa Temple cluster), 3 additional cases were confirmed. The new cases are related to Gwangneuksa Temple (1), Ilgok Central Church (1), and SM Sauna (1). In total, 95 cases have been confirmed.

* Subject to change based on findings from epidemiological investigation

○ Related to an Gwangju Gosi Hagwon (exam preparation academy) in Dong-gu, Gwangju City, 6 new cases were confirmed. Connection to previous clusters, such as the door-to-door sales group cluster, is under investigation.

□ The (presumed) location of infection acquisition of the 24 new imported cases are: America (1), Europe (6), and Asia excluding China (26) (Kazakhstan=15; Philippines=3; Qatar=3; Kyrgyzstan=3; Uzbekistan=1; Iraq=1).

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

□ KCDC has taken note and warned against the dangers of the promotional halls, product demonstration halls, and small group door-to-door briefing sessions conducted by door-to-door salespeople, which have caused the recent confirmed cases.

○ Promotional halls and product demonstration halls of this kind require close proximity and extended contact among visitors, increasing the risk of transmission. Middle-aged and senior citizens are advised not to attend these events.

○ Small-scale door-to-door briefing sessions should also be avoided because they require long conversations over the course of product presentation and thereby increase the risk of transmission.

○ Additionally, people who show symptoms of COVID-19 should cancel all outings or gatherings and visit a screening center to get tested.

□  Due to the recent transmissions occurring within churches, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters announced that, from 10 July (Fri), 6 p.m., it will be mandatory for all churches to comply with infection prevention guidelines, including prohibition of church-related gatherings, events, and group meals outside of regular service, and ensuring mask wearing at all times.

○ The mandated guidelines to be followed by churches and their staff include:

- For churches’ staff:

▴ Prohibit in-person group activities and events outside the regular church service

▴ Prohibit sharing/providing food and group meals

▴ Check those who enter the church for symptoms, and prohibit entry if symptoms are observed

▴ Disinfect the church before and after regular services

- For church attendees:

▴ Refrain from chanting and singing during regular service

▴ Do not talk loudly during regular service, including praying or singing in a loud voice

▴ Do not consume food or drink within church facilities

▴ Wear a mask and practice social distancing (2 meter recommended, 1 meter minimum)

○ In accordance with the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, individuals who violate the above-mentioned guidelines are liable for a fine of up to 3,000,000 KRW and the facility found in violation can be prohibited for public gatherings.

○ Facilities may be released from the above mandatory requirements if the head of the local government deems it is safe to do so based on the efforts of the facilities and local outbreak situations.

□  KCDC announced findings from basic analysis of clinical information regarding 8,976 confirmed cases who were released from isolation or confirmed dead until 30 April.

○ Isolation location type:

  * Patients who were admitted into medical facilities after being admitted into residential treatment centers were categorized as isolated at a medical facility

○ Symptoms at diagnosis: Showed one or more major symptoms* of COVID-19 at the time admission: 73.3% of those admitted into medical facilities, 35.2% of those admitted into residential treatment centers

  * fever, cough, expectoration, difficulty breathing, sore throat, runny nose, muscle pain, tiredness/lethargy, headache, consciousness disorder, vomiting/nausea, diarrhea

  - Among those admitted into medical facilities, the most common symptoms were: cough (41.8%), expectoration (28.9%), fever (20.1%), headache (17.2%)

○ Clinical severity: mild cases accounted for 90.9% of all confirmed, and 9.1% of the patients required oxygen therapy or more advanced treatment methods

  - Clinical severity was higher for older (50 years or more) patients, and the percentage of patients who required oxygen therapy was higher for patients with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, chronic kidney disease, chronic heart disease, and high blood pressure.

  * Percentage requiring oxygen therapy or more advanced treatment method, deaths included: Under 10 years of age: 0%, 10~19 years of age: 0.4%, 20~29 years of age: 0.8%, 30~39 years of age: 1.8%, 40~49 years of age: 3%, 50~59 years of age: 8.3%, 60~69 years of age: 17.1%, 70~79 years of age: 37.7%, 80 years of age and above: 58.2%

  - Among patients who received oxygen therapy, 94.1% started oxygen therapy within 8 days after admission to a medical facility

  - Of the confirmed cases who were admitted into residential treatment centers (3,450), a great majority remained in conditions that did not impede daily life and were released from isolation. A fraction of such cases were transferred to hospitals, and among them, 7 showed severe symptoms that required oxygen therapy.

Patients requiring oxygen therapy or more (%)

* major comorbidity - chronic heart disease (excluding hypertension), chronic kidney disease, COPD

** measured by patient’s peak severity during isolation

○  Length of stay: The average length of stay for patients admitted into medical facilities was 20.7 days; the average length of stay for patients who required oxygen therapy or more advanced treatment methods was 23.7 days.

□  KCDC announced that 48.9 billion KRW has been allocated in the 3rd Supplementary Budget to expand influenza vaccination program to include 19 million people, in order to prevent shortage of medical resources in case of a possible future influenza outbreak coinciding with COVID-19 outbreak.

○ In addition to those included under the existing program (those between 6 months and 13 years of age, pregnant women, and citizens over 65 years of age), the expanded program now further covers those between 14-18 years of age and citizens between 62-64 years of age.

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

TOTAL

Seoul City