New Coronavirus Emergency... "On-site Staff Shortage Amid Surging Quarantine Demand" (Comprehensive Report 2)

Expanding the Scope of Investigation Adds 55 People in One Day
97 Tested Negative, 15 Undergoing Tests
Quarantine Strengthened at Airports from Today... "National Quarantine Stations Alone Lack Manpower"

[Asia Economy Reporters Choi Dae-yeol, Jo Hyun-ui] The quarantine authorities have launched an all-out response to prevent the domestic spread of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan Pneumonia), which started in Wuhan, China. This is because the concern over community spread has increased as dozens of people who were later confirmed as confirmed cases, but were not caught at the first line of defense, airport quarantine, due to no or mild symptoms, met many others before isolation. To immediately prevent further transmission, from the 28th, all those diagnosed with pneumonia after returning from China 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. today, there are 4,515 confirmed cases, 6,973 suspected cases, and 106 deaths.

◆ Cumulative Investigated Symptomatic Subjects Increased 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. today, the number of symptomatic subjects under investigation increased by 55 from the previous day to 112. Among them, 97 tested negative and were released from isolation, and tests are currently underway for 15 people. Including 4 confirmed cases, a total of 19 people are receiving treatment or undergoing tests.

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

A KCDC official said, "Due to the change in case definition and the expansion of contaminated areas subject to quarantine, the number of people to be isolated or monitored is expected to increase significantly. We have ordered local governments to expand screening clinics and isolation hospitals, secure additional monitoring and isolation personnel, and actively mobilize necessary manpower and facilities to proactively prevent community spread."

On the 28th, as concerns about the spread escalated with the fourth confirmed case of the novel coronavirus infection, quarantine officials at Incheon International Airport conducted intensive screening of tourists arriving from Jinan, China. Starting from this day, health authorities mandated the submission of a 'Health Status Questionnaire' from all entrants coming from China to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection. / Yeongjongdo - Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@

Although no additional confirmed cases have been reported as of today, 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. The problem is that some confirmed patients have been reported to have used nearby hospitals or restaurants before isolation, raising concerns about secondary infections and community spread. All confirmed cases in Korea have either resided in Wuhan or traveled there for work or tourism.

However, as the number of patients rapidly increases beyond Wuhan and Hubei Province to the entire China, both Chinese and Korean health authorities acknowledge the possibility of human-to-human transmission. Unlike SARS and MERS, the World Health Organization (WHO) has not clearly determined the possibility of infection during the asymptomatic incubation period. The first confirmed domestic case was isolated relatively quickly, but other patients had contact with dozens of people before isolation, making it impossible to completely rule out transmission. Confirmed cases have been reported in countries worldwide except China, all of whom have traveled to China. Secondary infections without travel to China have not yet been reported.

◆ "Manpower Shortage on Site... Quarantine Demand Surges" = From today, the entire territory of China has been designated as a contaminated area, and quarantine for all arrivals has been strengthened, but it is uncertain whether the sudden increase in quarantine demand can be handled. Previously, only certain areas such as Wuhan City and Guangdong Province were designated as contaminated areas for travelers entering Korea from China, but from 0:00 a.m. today, this has been expanded to the entire country. There were 8 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 26,000 people, must individually undergo quarantine procedures. Including arrivals by ship, quarantine demand is surging.

On the 28th, as concerns about the spread intensified with the occurrence of the fourth confirmed case of the novel coronavirus infection, tourists arriving from Jinan, China, were filling out health status questionnaires at the Incheon International Airport arrival hall. Starting from this day, health authorities mandated the submission of a 'Health Status Questionnaire' from all arrivals coming from China to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection. / Yeongjongdo - Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@

Upon arrival from contaminated areas, quarantine officers immediately check each passenger for fever or respiratory symptoms, and review a health status questionnaire detailing vomiting, diarrhea, chills, headaches, and the place of stay in Korea. The existing 13 national quarantine stations nationwide, including Incheon Airport, lack sufficient personnel. The Ministry of National Defense and other government departments and local governments have agreed to provide about 250 personnel, but this is far from enough compared to 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 Korea University Medical School's Environmental Medicine Research Institute 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. However, it is presumed to follow a pattern similar to SARS." Regarding the possibility of additional confirmed cases or deaths, he said, "Talking about possibilities itself may cause unnecessary anxiety. Since it is practically a cousin of SARS and MERS, it will likely show similar patterns, but it is too early to speculate on future possibilities."

Reporters Choi Dae-yeol, Jo Hyun-ui dychoi@

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