Updates on COVID-19 in Republic of Korea

3 June, 2020

○ As of 0:00, 3 June 2020, the total number of confirmed cases is 11,590 (including 1,269 imported cases), of which 10,467 cases have been discharged from isolation. Newly confirmed cases are 49 in total.

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

○ Of the 49 new cases, 3 were imported cases and 46 were locally transmitted cases.

- Of the 3 imported cases, 1 is from America, 1 from India, 1 from the Philippines.

○ Related to the nightclub cluster, 2 additional cases were confirmed. In total, there are 272 confirmed cases.

  * Visitors to nightclubs, etc. = 96, Contacts = 176 / Seoul = 134, Gyeonggi = 59, Incheon = 54, Chungbuk = 9, Busan = 4, Daegu = 2, Gyeongnam = 2, Gangwon = 2, Jeonbuk = 2, Daejeon = 1, Chungnam = 1, Gyeongbuk = 1, Jeju = 1

○ Related to the Coupang logistics center cluster in Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi Province, 2 additional cases were confirmed. In total, 119* cases have been confirmed.

  * 74 workers of the logistics center; 45 contacts / Gyeonggi=54, Incheon=45, Seoul=20

○ Related to the newly planted churches in the Seoul Metropolitan Region, 10 new cases were confirmed. In total, 55 cases have been confirmed. Contact management and investigation into the source of infection is underway.

  * Incheon = 33; Seoul = 13; Gyeonggi = 9

○ Related to KB Life Insurance TM Service Center in Jung-gu, Seoul City, 3 additional cases were confirmed during self-quarantine. In total, 11 cases have been confirmed.

○ Related to Incheon Gyeyang-gu (real estate agency) family, 3 additional cases were confirmed. The new cases are a person who visited a restaurant (Ihak Grilled Short Ribs, Gyeyang-gu, Incheon City) that a confirmed case had visited and family members of the new case. In total, 15* cases have been confirmed.

  * Gyeyang-gu family = 5; Real estate agency partner and family = 2; Yeongdeungpo Yeonsei Naro Academy students = 2; Contacts = 6

○ Related to Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children and Adolescents (MIS-C) associated with COVID-19, the two reported suspected cases have been reviewed by expert advisory committee. The advisory committee has concluded that neither cases fit MIS-C and that the two were cases of Kawasaki Disease Shock Syndrome.

- The first reported case (male, 11 years old) returned to Korea from the Philippines on 9 March and developed fever on 26 April. The patient was hospitalized on 29 April and developed rashes, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and shock. He was admitted for treatment in a intensive care unit. He recovered and was discharged from the hospital on 11 May. SARS-CoV-2 exposure was suspected because the patient had stayed in the Philippines until early March. However, he tested negative for both PCR test and neutralizing antibody test. Therefore, it has been concluded that he does not fit the case definition of MIS-C.

- The second reported case (female, 4 years old) developed fever on 12 May and was admitted to hospital on 14 May. She developed conjunctival hyperemia, abdominal pain, hypotension, etc. The patient recovered after receiving inpatient treatment and was discharged from the hospital on 30 May. She also tested negative in both PCR test and neutralizing antibody test. No factor indicating suspected SARS-CoV-2 exposure was found. It was concluded that she does not fit the case definition of MIS-C.

- KCDC will continue surveillance and investigation of international and domestic cases of MIS-C.

○ In light of school opening today for high school grade 1, middle school grade 2, and elementary school grades 3 and 4 students, KCDC shared the statistics on school-aged confirmed cases and urged caution.

- During May, 48,889 cases of suspected COVID-19 cases were reported. 70 (0.14%) tested positive.

Reported suspected cases and positive cases (1-31 May)

- Excluding 18 imported cases and 12 cases of 18-year-old college students and workers, there were 40 cases left. Of the 40 cases, 14 (35%) were family transmission, 14 (35%) were transmitted through hagwon (after-school private academies) or at-home tutoring lessons, and 4 (10%) were transmitted through public venues.

- Although no school-acquired infection has been found to date, contacts under incubation period are being monitored. With more students returning to school today, the authorities are working to prevent transmissions in schools.

      * Confirmed from testing of all students before returning to school in Daegu City = 2; Chain of transmission under investigation = 3 (Daegu Oseong High School, Seoul Sangil Media High School, Busan Naeseong High School)

○ Students or staff who have fever or respiratory symptoms in the morning should not go to school. Facemasks should be worn at all times while in school. Personal hygiene measures such as hand washing and cough etiquette should be closely observed.

- Students need to avoid going to public venues such as singing rooms and PC cafes. Teachers and school staff should refrain from public venues such as nightclubs, bars, singing rooms and PC cafes.

- Every person should be checked for fever before entering classroom. If presenting with fever of 37.5 degrees or above or other suspected symptoms, the student will be instructed to put on an MDFS-approved respirator-mask (i.e. KF80, KF94, KF99) and wait in a separate area while the school contacts the student’s parent/guardian.

- Before or after receiving a COVID-19 test at a screening clinic, the person should not visit any other place such as PC cafe, singing room, or convenience store, and stay at home. At home, the person should avoid coming in contact with other household members, wash hands frequently, wear a mask at home, and practice other precautions to prevent family transmission.

- If a confirmed case is found in a school, all students, teachers, and staff of the school will be instructed to put on an MFDS-approved respirator-facemask and return home. Local municipal government will conduct epidemiological investigation, disinfection, restriction of use of the affected facility, and other necessary infection control measures.

○ Nightlife venues, singing rooms, after-school private academies, and PC cafes in Seoul Metropolitan Region are under gathering ban or recommendation to limit operation as per the executive action of respective municipalities or the Central Disaster Management Headquarters.

- If operation is unavoidable, such facilities must follow all infection control measures including maintaining a log of all visitors, requiring mask wearing, preventing entry of symptomatic persons, checking workers for symptoms, sending symptomatic worker home, designating an infection control manager, disinfecting indoor spaces, and ensuring at least 2 meters of distance between users.

- KCDC requested municipalities to enhance inspections to ensure high compliance of the infection control measures by such facilities.

○ KCDC is requesting recovered COVID-19 patients to participate blood donation to aid the plasma therapy development.

- Concentrated formulations of antibodies and immunoglobulins in the blood plasma of recovered patients can be used to treat other COVID-19 patients. This requires a lot of blood.

- People aged 18-65 who have been confirmed with COVID-19, fully recovered, discharged (released) from isolation (at least 14 days ago) are able to participate.

  * Participating hospitals: Korea University Ansan Hospital, Keimyung Unviersity Dongsan Hospital, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu Fatima Hospital / For inquiries, dial 1522-6487

○ Recently, COVID-19 transmissions are occurring through various venues such as religious small group meetings, PC cafes, after-school academies in Seoul Metropolitan Region (Seoul and nearby areas) with high population density and foot traffic. If the transmission continues and occurs at a highly crowded and confined space with a large number of people, a massive outbreak may occur at any time.

- Residents of the Seoul Metropolitan Region are advised to postpone social plans and gatherings and avoid using public venues such as restaurants and bars.

- Religious facilities are advised to cancel or postpone or switch to non-face-to-face methods all small group gatherings that involve droplet-producing activities such as conversing, singing, and eating together in confined spaces.

- If having an on-site service is unavoidable, the religious facility hosting the event must reduce the number of participants to ensure that participants can maintain proper distance, check people for fever and other suspected symptoms, ensure hand washing, and require mask wearing. Providing mass meal or activities that make respiratory droplets travel in air (such as singing, shouting, and chanting) should be avoided.

○ As a COVID-19 outbreak can occur at any crowded, confined, and close-contact facilities, everyone is advised to understand the risk and postpone all social gatherings or switch to non-face-to-face social activities, and practice hand washing, mask wearing, and physical distancing in daily life.

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

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

          TOTAL

          Seoul City

          Incheon City

          Gyeonggi Province

          Gyeongbuk Province

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