Health Authorities: "Infection Route of Novel Coronavirus Patient No. 16 Still Unconfirmed" (Comprehensive)

One new confirmed case added on the 4th... Total patients increased to 16
Returned on the 19th of last month after traveling to Thailand, tested after hospital treatment

On the 4th, medical staff are busy moving around in the COVID-19 screening clinic installed at the National Medical Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] On the 4th, one additional patient was confirmed with the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia), bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 16. The health authorities stated that since the epidemiological investigation of the new patient has not been completed, specific movement routes or contacts cannot be disclosed yet. The patient developed symptoms after returning from a trip to Thailand last month, and at present, the infection route cannot be identified.

Authorities "Investigating Patient 16's movements, exposures, and infection route"
Still negative on designating Thailand as a contaminated area like China

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the 16th patient is a 42-year-old Korean woman who returned on the 19th after traveling to Thailand last month. From the evening of the 25th of the same month, she began to experience symptoms such as chills and received treatment at a hospital for about a week until the 2nd of this month, but her symptoms did not improve. On the following day, the 3rd, she visited Chonnam National University Hospital. To prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection, she was isolated and tested at the Gwangju Health and Environment Research Institute, where she was confirmed positive that morning.

Jung Eun-kyung, director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said at a briefing that "Since the patient has a travel history to Thailand, it is necessary to determine where and how she was exposed." She added, "There are many unusual aspects even from the authorities' perspective, so a detailed epidemiological investigation is needed to find out who she contacted locally to determine the infection route." She also noted, "It is currently difficult to specify Thailand alone."

On the 4th, students wearing masks are passing in front of a banner with guidelines for preventing the novel coronavirus infection at Yonsei University in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

Since symptoms appeared about five days after returning, the Korea CDC believes that there were no symptoms at the time of entry quarantine. The patient entered from a country other than China and was not under surveillance by health authorities, local governments, or public health centers. The 12th patient was previously reported to have been infected through contact with a confirmed case in Japan. Based on the information revealed so far, it is likely that the infection occurred in Thailand or was transmitted within the local community. In either case, the authorities are likely to revise the existing quarantine system.

As of the morning of this day, Thailand has 19 confirmed cases, the second highest after China. Since the infection route of the new patient has not yet been identified, the government views the expansion of contaminated areas negatively. Director Jung said, "There is also a possibility of contact with residents of Hubei Province at the travel destination," adding, "The risk level of each country changes continuously with the epidemic situation, so high-risk areas are designated as contaminated areas and quarantined. However, we do not consider it to be at that stage yet."

On the 4th, as concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus infection grow, a notice prohibiting tourist entry was installed in front of the main gate of Ewha Womans University in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. Photo by Mun Honam munonam@

Contacts of Patient 12 surge from 138 to 361 to 666
Additional contacts traced through theater, immigration office, duty-free shop, etc.
Total contacts 1,381... Self-quarantine after filtering infection possibility

Patient 12, who was confirmed positive after entering from Japan, has seen the number of contacts nearly double in one day. The patient was confirmed on the 1st, and the initial epidemiological investigation identified 138 contacts, which increased to 361 the previous day, and about 300 more today, totaling 666. The Korea CDC explained that the increase was due to additional investigations at places such as the CGV Bucheon Station theater, Incheon Immigration Office, medical institutions, and duty-free shops.

The epidemiological investigation involves patient interviews and investigators directly examining movement routes and credit card usage, so the numbers may fluctuate. Although the number of contacts for Patient 12 may increase further, the Korea CDC official said it is unlikely to increase drastically as it did the previous day and today. Regarding Patient 14, who was infected by Patient 12, the authorities judged that there are no additional contacts as their movement routes were the same.

Jung Eun-kyung, Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, is explaining the domestic occurrence status after finishing a briefing on the emergency use approval of one diagnostic reagent product for the novel coronavirus infection on the afternoon of the 4th at the Government Complex Sejong in Sejong City.

The number of contacts for Patient 10, a third-generation infection case, is identified as 91. The patient visited places such as a beauty salon and church in Ilsan. Patient 10 is the spouse of Patient 6, a second-generation infection case, and had contact with the same individuals as their son, Patient 11. Including the contacts of Patient 1, who was released from monitoring today, the total number of contacts is 1,318. The existing classification of contacts includes both close and casual contacts, but with changes in contact-related guidelines, this number is expected to change. The exact scale is currently being assessed by the Korea CDC and local public health centers. Going forward, all contacts will be classified uniformly without distinction between close or casual contacts and will be required to self-quarantine.

As of the morning of this day, there are 591 symptomatic individuals under investigation (cumulative, excluding confirmed patients), of whom 462 tested negative and were released from isolation, and 129 remain isolated and are undergoing testing. Regarding concerns raised about reinfection after symptom recovery, Director Jung said, "Some infectious diseases provide lifelong immunity after one infection, but others do not, so scientific research and data accumulation are necessary to understand this aspect."

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