11 Confirmed Cases of Novel Coronavirus... "3rd Generation Infection Suspected" (Update)

Jung Eun-kyung, Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The eighth confirmed case of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) in South Korea has been reported. Among the contacts of existing patients, two tested positive, increasing the total number of confirmed cases to 11 as of 2 p.m. that day. This is the first case of infection in a person who had never been to China, and the first so-called third-generation infection case, presumed to have been transmitted from that patient, has also emerged.

On the 31st, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) Central Disease Control Headquarters announced in a briefing that a 62-year-old Korean woman who returned through Incheon Airport on the 23rd was confirmed as the eighth patient. She entered the country via Qingdao after being in Wuhan. She is currently isolated at Wonkwang University Hospital, a nationally designated inpatient treatment facility.

The fifth patient had visited Wuhan for business and returned on the 24th via Zhangjiajie Airport near Wuhan. Although asymptomatic upon return, the KCDC identified that she began experiencing flu-like symptoms from the afternoon of the 26th. The patient's contacts, including family members, were confirmed to be 10 people, and after self-quarantine and in-depth investigation, one person tested positive that afternoon.

The sixth patient, infected during a meal with the third patient, had eight contacts. After self-quarantine and thorough investigation, two family members tested positive. The sixth patient was infected by the third patient, representing a third-generation infection after one further transmission. After the seventh patient was confirmed in the morning, three additional cases were confirmed in the afternoon, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 11. Jeong Eun-kyung, director of the KCDC, stated, "The immediate response team will proceed with additional investigations, and the results will be compiled and disclosed as soon as the investigation is completed."

Meanwhile, regarding the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring an international public health emergency on the 30th (local time), the KCDC held a risk assessment meeting that morning. The KCDC stated, "Currently, South Korea is not experiencing widespread community transmission, so the infectious disease crisis alert level remains at 'Warning.' However, as community infection cases increase, measures to prevent further spread will be strengthened."

Accordingly, to facilitate early detection of suspected patients, mobile chest radiography equipment will be provided to public health centers, and community screening clinics will be expanded. For hospitalized patients who need to be excluded from novel coronavirus infection based on a physician's judgment, proactive inpatient isolation and rapid confirmation testing will be reinforced. Director Jeong emphasized, "Early detection of patients is the most important measure to block community transmission," and added, "If you have traveled to China within the last 14 days, please refrain from outside activities as much as possible and maintain personal hygiene such as handwashing and cough etiquette."

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