Updates on COVID-19 in Republic of Korea

17 April 2020

○ As of 0:00, 17 April 2020, a total of 10,635 cases (including 983 imported cases) have been confirmed, of which 7,829 cases (73.6%) have been discharged from isolation. Newly confirmed cases are 22 in total.

[Table 1. Total confirmed and suspected cases]

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

○ Epidemiological links have been found for 81.2% of the total cases; 9.6% are either under investigation or sporadic cases. More details on the epidemiological links within each province or city are shown in Table 3.

○ From Hanseong Internal Medicine Clinic in Gyeonggi Province, 1 case (a dialysis outpatient of the clinic) was confirmed on 11 April. Upon contact investigation, 5 additional cases were confirmed. Further epidemiological investigation is underway. In total, 6 cases (patients = 2; staff/worker = 1; family/guardians/other contacts = 3) have been confirmed.

○ From Yecheon-gun, Gyeongbuk Province, 3 additional cases were confirmed during contact investigation. In total, 34 cases (including 2 in Andong City and 1 in Mungyeong City) have been confirmed since 9 April.

(The figures in Table 3 are based on cases reported to KCDC before 0:00 of 17 April and may differ from above.)

○ As of 17 April, of the 7,829 cases that have been discharged from isolation, 163 (2.1% of 7,829) have tested positive again after being discharged from isolation (referred to as “retested-positive cases” below).

On average, it took 13.5 days (min 1 day; max 35 days) between discharge from isolation and retesting positive.

Of the 137 retested-positive cases with reported clinical and epidemiological information, 61(43.9%) cases were symptomatic. All of the 61 symptomatic cases had mild symptoms.

Of the 294 contacts of the retested-positive cases, 38 have finished 14-day monitoring period and 256 are under monitoring. As of date, no secondary infection has been reported. Among contacts, 13 confirmed cases (family members living together) have been reported, all of whom are cases that retested positive and not new cases.

For viral infectivity assessment, 28 samples of retested-positive cases were collected. Of the 6 initial samples, no virus was cultured. The other 22 are undergoing viral culture test.

KCDC prepared and distributed a response plan for retested-positive cases on 14 April. Based on findings from contact tracing and management and viral culture tests to find the causes and transmissibility, KCDC will adjust its response accordingly.

The response plan includes 14-day home quarantine recommendation and monitoring of symptoms for cases upon discharge from isolation. In general, retested-positive cases will be handled in the same way as first-time confirmed cases in areas such as contact investigation, admission to treatment facilities, discharge from isolation.

○ Although the number of confirmed cases has seen a decline recently, there is still a risk that infection may spread rapidly if close contacts occur because people who are unaware that they are infected visit enclosed environment (such as PC cafe, public baths/sauna, bars), as is the case of the Yecheon-gun cluster. KCDC urged everyone to continue to follow social distancing and personal hygiene guidelines during the weekend.

KCDC stressed that reducing contact with other people as much as possible, washing hands thoroughly, and if having suspected symptoms, refraining from going to work or leaving home and going to a screening clinic to get tested are the most important and effective measures against COVID-19.

People who cannot avoid visiting an enclosed/crowded place should keep at least 2 meters of distance from other people, wear a facemask, and maintain hand hygiene by washing hands or using hand sanitizers.

KCDC urged young people to avoid enclosed spaces such as nightclubs, bars, and cafes and to refrain from social gatherings that may involve coming in close contact with other people. 

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

[Figure 1: Distribution of confirmed cases based on location reported]

*Refer to attachment

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

[Table 5: Distribution of cases that retested positive]