[Q&A] "Transporting Symptomatic Korean Residents Difficult... Managed by Local Consulate General"

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyun-ui Cho] The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced on the 30th that no additional cases of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) have occurred domestically.

As of 9 a.m. on the day, the number of confirmed patients remains at four, unchanged from the previous day. Among 240 symptomatic individuals under investigation, 199 have tested negative and been released from quarantine, while 41 are still undergoing testing.

The government is conducting a full survey of 2,991 people who entered Korea from Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, between the 13th and 26th. This includes 1,160 Koreans and 1,831 foreigners. Initially, the total was counted as 3,023, but 32 duplicate entries were excluded.

Of the 1,160 Koreans, 75 have departed, and 1,085 remain in the country. Among those staying domestically, 701 (65%) are being monitored, with 10 classified as suspected cases currently undergoing testing. Of the 1,831 foreigners, 1,433 (78%) have left, and 398 remain under investigation in Korea.

The overall condition of the confirmed patients is stable; however, the fourth patient continues to be under intensive observation and treatment.

Below is a Q&A with Jung Eun-kyung, Director of the KCDC and head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters.

- What will happen to symptomatic Korean residents who cannot board the charter flight?

▲ Unfortunately, symptomatic Korean residents will likely not be transported to ensure the safety of asymptomatic individuals. The consulate general on site will manage diagnosis and treatment of patients. I cannot comment on how management will be handled or whether medical personnel will be dispatched, as I do not have that information. I understand that various measures are currently under review.

- Initially, seats on the charter flight were arranged in a diamond pattern, but due to schedule changes, passengers are seated closely to maximize capacity. Can wearing masks alone prevent secondary infection onboard?

▲ The aircraft is equipped with a ventilation system that blocks respiratory transmission, which helps prevent virus spread via droplets. Additionally, only asymptomatic individuals board, and they are provided with N95 masks and hand sanitizers, along with personal hygiene education and strict infection control measures including aircraft disinfection. Preemptive measures such as quarantine after return will also be implemented, and related supplementary measures are planned. The Korean residents have also agreed in advance to live in temporary facilities for two weeks and comply with government measures.

- Will the crew on the charter flight transporting Korean residents be quarantined separately from the passengers?

▲ They will not be quarantined separately. However, crew members will undergo active monitoring by having their temperature checked twice daily and being assessed for symptoms.

- Concerns remain high in the Asan and Jincheon areas where temporary living facilities for Korean residents are being established. What is the situation?

▲ Strict control of outsiders will be enforced at these facilities. Korean residents will live individually in rooms with bathrooms, so local residents should not be at risk. Medical staff will check their health daily, and if any suspicious symptoms arise, they will be transferred to isolation hospitals, so there should be no issues.

- Human-to-human transmission has been confirmed in countries such as Germany, Japan, and Vietnam. Will quarantine measures be strengthened for entrants from these countries?

▲ Most secondary infections confirmed overseas have occurred within close contacts such as family members. It is difficult to consider this as widespread community transmission in those countries, so quarantine measures for those regions are not currently planned. However, if a country is judged to be an epidemic area, measures will be taken accordingly.

- There are suspicions that the outbreak statistics announced by the Chinese government are underestimated. What is your view?

▲ China reports statistics not only on confirmed patients but also on suspected cases. The number of suspected cases is increasing significantly, likely because rapid diagnosis is not always possible or cases under diagnosis are classified as suspected. Reporting also varies by each country's surveillance system, so there are likely many unreported cases. Unlike Korea, China does not include individuals with initial symptoms such as cough and fever as suspected cases, so the overall scale needs to be estimated.

- Please provide specific details on the condition of the fourth patient.

▲ This is the most recently diagnosed patient who has pneumonia and is receiving oxygen therapy and other treatments. However, the attending physician has assessed the patient's condition as stable.

- Why are only 65% of Koreans staying in the country among those under full investigation being monitored?

▲ Only about 65-70% of the subjects can be contacted. Daily phone calls are made, and contact is also attempted through the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Local governments are managing them redundantly, and for those who cannot be reached, their whereabouts will be checked through public health centers.

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