pdates on COVID-19 in Republic of Korea

17 May 2020

○ As of 0:00, 17 May 2020, the total number of confirmed cases is 11,050 (including 1,167 imported cases), of which 9,888 cases have been discharged from isolation. Newly confirmed cases are 13 in total.

[Table 1. Total reported/tested cases]

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

○ Of the 13 new cases, 7 are imported cases and 6 are locally transmitted cases.

  - Out of the 6 locally transmitted cases, 5 are related to the nightclub cluster and 1 case is from Daegu.

   > 1 local case was confirmed after testing all the related personnel to employment project for seniors in Daegu. Further epidemiological investigation and measures to prevent further spread is ongoing.

   > All 5 new cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases related to nightclubs.

○ 2 additional confirmed cases have been reported between 0:00 and 12:00 today, bringing the total related to the nightclub cluster to 168.

  - By region: Seoul City=93, Gyeonggi Province=33, Incheon City=23, Chungbuk Province=9, Busan City=4, 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)=79

  - By age group: [0-18]=17; [19-29]=102; [30-39]=27; [40-49]=11; [50-59]=6; [60+]=5

  - Male=136; Female=32

○ 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 for those who work in education, places of worship, indoor sports/gym facilities, or other places that are used by many people should especially report to the public health center if they have been to nightlife entertainment venues in Itaewon area 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 others. They should carefully practice personal hygiene measures including mask wearing and hand washing, and get retested immediately if symptoms later appear.

○ From 18 May, KCDC and the Ministry of Defense will test all the trainees who will join the military, to prevent infection within the military and to evaluate the risk of community infection.

  - It will be done by a pooled test method(ratio of 1:5) for 8 weeks, testing 6,300 people per week.

○ As the weather is getting warmer and people tend not to wear face masks properly, KCDC emphasized the importance of proper mask wearing for it to be effective on preventing infection.

  - The face mask should be adjusted to fit to your face, covering both your nose and mouth. You should wash your hands before wearing a face mask to prevent contamination.

  - When wearing, you should not touch your mask as much as possible to limit the contamination through hands.

  - When removing, you should take it off without touching the front of the mask. If you place tissues or other things inside of your mask, it will be less effective as there may be some gaps created and between the face and the mask.

  - Strict hand washing is needed even if you wear a mask, since you can get infected when you touch your eyes/nose/mouth with contaminated hands.

○ In light of the recent rise in local transmission from club cluster cases to others in bars, karaoke rooms, 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.

  * New cases In the last 2 weeks by chain of transmission (0:00 3 May – 0:00 17 May, 257 reported cases): imported cases 76(29.6%), local clusters 165(64.2%), under investigation 10(3.9%), and etc.

  - 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.

  - KCDC urged people to visit a screening clinic and get tested especially if two or more persons within a household or social group develop COVID-19 suspected symptoms.

[Table 3: Regional distribution and epidemiological links of the confirmed cases]

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

TOTAL

Seoul City

Gyeonggi Province

Daegu City

Gyeongbuk Province

[Table 4: Age distribution of severe cases]

[Table 5: Cases tested positive after discharge]

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

[Figure 3: New cases (for last 4 weeks) by chain of transmission and by age group]

By chain of transmission