Authorities "Full-scale Response to Novel Coronavirus"... Expanded Testing for Symptomatic Individuals and Strengthened Quarantine Measures (Comprehensive)

The fourth confirmed case of the novel coronavirus infection, known as 'Wuhan pneumonia,' has occurred in South Korea. On the morning of the 27th, a notice restricting visits related to Wuhan pneumonia was posted at Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

[Asia Economy Reporters Choi Dae-yeol and Cho Hyun-ui] The quarantine authorities have launched an all-out response to prevent the domestic spread of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) that started in Wuhan, China. This is because there is growing concern about community spread, as asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic individuals who were not detected at the first line of defense, airport quarantine, later tested positive and met dozens of people before isolation. To immediately prevent further transmission, from the 28th, all individuals who have returned from China and have been diagnosed with pneumonia will be thoroughly tested, and quarantine at airports and ports has also been strengthened. Chinese health authorities announced that as of 0:00 a.m. on the same day, there were 4,515 confirmed cases, 6,973 suspected cases, and 106 deaths.

◆ Cumulative number of symptomatic individuals under investigation rises from 57 to 112... No additional confirmed cases = According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) Central Disease Control Headquarters, as of 9 a.m. on the day, the number of symptomatic individuals under investigation increased by 55 from the previous day to 112. Among them, 97 tested negative and were released from isolation, while 15 are currently undergoing testing. Including 4 confirmed cases, a total of 19 people are receiving treatment or testing.

The KCDC explained that the increase in the number of symptomatic individuals under investigation is due to a change in case definition. Previously, only those who had been to Wuhan within the last two weeks and exhibited both fever and respiratory symptoms were classified as symptomatic individuals under investigation. From this day forward, anyone who has been anywhere in China and has been diagnosed with pneumonia is classified as such. Those classified as symptomatic individuals under investigation are subject to isolation measures. The first confirmed domestic case, who entered through Incheon Airport from Wuhan on the 19th, was also classified as a symptomatic individual under investigation during airport quarantine and was immediately transferred to a hospital.

A KCDC official said, "With the change in case definition and the expansion of quarantine target contaminated areas, the number of people to be isolated or monitored is expected to increase significantly." Although no additional confirmed cases have been reported as of this day, the number of people subject to testing has increased significantly, and with a large number of Korean residents in Wuhan expected to return via charter flights, the possibility of additional cases has increased considerably.

◆ "On-site personnel are insufficient... Quarantine demand surges" = Although quarantine has been strengthened for all arrivals since this day with the entire territory of China designated as a contaminated area, it is uncertain whether the sudden increase in quarantine demand can be managed. Previously, only certain regions such as Wuhan City and Guangdong Province were designated as contaminated areas when entering Korea from China, but from 0:00 a.m. on this day, the designation was expanded to the entire country. There were eight flights per week directly from Wuhan to Korea, with fewer than 200 passengers per flight, but now about 170 to 180 flights per day, averaging about 26,000 people, must individually undergo quarantine procedures. Including arrivals by ship, the demand for quarantine has surged.

When entering from contaminated areas, quarantine officers must immediately check each passenger for fever or respiratory symptoms upon disembarkation, as well as inspect a health status questionnaire detailing vomiting, diarrhea, chills, headache, the individual's health condition, and the place of stay in Korea. The existing 13 national quarantine stations nationwide, including Incheon Airport, lack sufficient personnel. About 250 people from the Ministry of National Defense and other government departments and local governments have been assigned to support, but this is far below the increasing quarantine demand. An official from the Incheon Airport quarantine station said, "Although quarantine personnel have been expanded since the 2015 MERS outbreak, additional quarantine procedures for arrivals from contaminated areas make manpower insufficient."

Professor Park Ki-soo of the Environmental Medicine Research Institute at Korea University College of Medicine said, "Although the total number of deaths in China is 106, it is difficult to simply compare the speed or scale of transmission with SARS or MERS based on numbers alone, and we need to wait and see over time," adding, "However, it is presumed to follow a pattern similar to SARS."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.