Updates on COVID-19 in Republic of Korea

6 June, 2020

○ As of 0:00, 6 June 2020, the total number of confirmed cases is 11,719 (including 1,288 imported cases), of which 10,531 cases have been discharged from isolation. Newly confirmed cases are 51 in total.

[Table 1. Total reported/tested cases]

[Table 2. Imported cases in Korea (as of 0:00, 6 June 2020)]

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

○ Of the 51 new cases, 8 were imported cases and 43 were locally transmitted cases.

- Of the 8 imported cases, 5 are from America, 2 from UAE, 1 from Pakistan.

○ Related to the nightclub cluster, an additional case has been confirmed. In total, 273* cases have been confirmed related to the nightclubs.

  * Club visitors=96; Contacts =177 / Seoul City=135, Gyeonggi Province=59, Incheon City=54, Chungbuk Province=9, Busan City=4, Daegu City=2, Gyeongnam Province=2, Gangwon Province=2, Jeonbuk Province=2, Daejeon City=1, Chungnam Province=1, Gyeongbuk Province=1, Jeju Province=1

○ Related to the Coupang logistics center cluster in Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi Province, 6 additional cases were confirmed. In total, 130* cases have been confirmed.

  * 79 workers of the logistics center; 51 contacts / Gyeonggi=60, Incheon=49, Seoul=21

○ Related to the newly planted churches in the Seoul Metropolitan Region, 4 new cases were confirmed. In total, 80* cases have been confirmed.

  * Related to church = 31; Contacts = 49 / Incheon = 43; Seoul = 22; Gyeonggi = 15

○ Related to Richway in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 13 additional cases were confirmed. In total, 42 case have been confirmed. All persons who have visited Richway (Seoul Gwangak-gu Siheungdae-ro 552 Seocheon Building Floor 8) between 21 May ~ 3 June are advised to get tested regardless of symptoms.

  * Seoul = 26; Gyeonggi = 8; Incheon = 6; Chungnam = 2

○ Related to the table tennis club in Seoul, 17 new cases were confirmed, and 13 new cases were confirmed related to Big Tree church at Yongin city. Investigation on the chain of transmission and contact tracing are underway.

  * Seoul = 15; Gyeonggi = 1; Incheon = 1

○ Related to Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance branch office, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, an additional case was confirmed. In total, 4 cases were confirmed.

○ From Happy Nursing Home, Gwangju City, Gyeonggi province, an additional case was confirmed. In total, 8 cases have been confirmed.

  * Caretaker = 2; care home residents = 5; social worker = 1

○ Related to Elim church, Gumi city, Gyongbuk province, an additional case was confirmed during the testing for discharge of contacts. In total, 10 cases were confirmed.

  *  Elim church member = 7(including Daegu Agriculture Meister Highschool student and family); family = 2; a merchant = 1

□ KCDC asked the public to take precautions about risk factors related to small and medium-sized churches and door-to-door sales due to increasing number of confirmed cases.

○ As a result of an investigation into the church where many confirmed cases occurred,

- It was a sealed environment, such as underground or poorly ventilated place,

- There were activities such as singing hymns, sharing meals or refreshments that could spread droplets,

- Preventive measures such as wearing masks and hand hygiene have not been followed well.

○ In the case of religious facilities, KCDC asked to cancel or postpone the small groups that may spread droplets through actions such as having a conversation in a enclosed space, singing hymns, or eating together, or to switch to non-face-to-face methods.

- In the event of on-site worship, participants should be reduced in a suitable size to maintain distance between participants, be checked for fever and suspected symptoms, wash their hands, and wear masks. Meals are not to be provided and any action which causes droplets to splash such as singing and shouting are asked to be suspended.

○ As a result of the investigation into the door-to-door sales event, it was found that a large number of visitors gathered in a sealed environment with poor ventilation, sang songs and ate together.

- Infection transmission is much easier within these enclosed spaces where many people are concentrated and perform activities such as singing and eating. Therefore so the relevant activities should be restrained.

□ KCDC stated that currently there is an ongoing transmission between sporadic patients whose infection routes have not yet been identified. In particular, the number of severe patients is increasing* as the proportion of those aged 65 or older among the confirmed cases increase.

  * Since May, there is 1 death case (biblical language study meeting cluster), 2 very severe cases (biblical language study meeting cluster), 6 severe cases (Coupang = 3, Happy nursing home = 3, church plant meeting = 1, under investigation = 1)

[Figure 1: New cases (for 1 month) which are under investigation and concluded]

                                           * Of 939 confirmed cases since 3 May, 73(7.8%) are under investigation

[Figure 2 : New cases (for 1 month) by age group]

                                                  * Under 18 = 85(9.1%), 19∼39 = 409(43.6%), 40∼64 = 328(34.9%), Above 65 = 117(12.5%)