Domestic Second COVID-19 Patient Under Review for Discharge (Update)

On the 3rd, as the spread of the novel coronavirus infection continues, citizens are visiting the screening clinic at the National Medical Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced on the 3rd that the second confirmed case of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) in South Korea is showing significant improvement in symptoms and is considering discharge.

Jung Eun-kyung, Director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stated at a briefing that "The second patient’s pneumonia symptoms have improved, and the test results came back negative, so discharge is being considered." The second patient is a 55-year-old Korean male who was in Wuhan, China, and returned to Korea on the 22nd of last month. He was confirmed as a positive case on the 24th of the same month and has been isolated and treated at the National Medical Center.

Director Jung said, "Various tests have shown significant improvement, and antiviral medication has been discontinued," adding, "We will gather comprehensive opinions and, through expert case reviews, decide on the discharge status and schedule." If this patient is discharged, it will be the first discharge case since the first domestic patient was confirmed on the 20th of last month.

She continued, "Currently, the discharge criteria require clinical symptoms to improve and two negative PCR tests at 24-hour intervals," and said, "We will review whether to apply this criterion as is or revise it based on updated knowledge, and then decide on the discharge of hospitalized patients accordingly."

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