"Novel Coronavirus, Lower Severity and Transmission Compared to SARS and MERS" (Comprehensive)

Novel Coronavirus Infection Clinical TF Reveals Domestic Outbreak Patterns and Treatment Progress
"No Severe Cases and Low Infectivity... Transmission Speed Is Fast"

On the afternoon of the 7th, the Central Clinical Task Force (TF) for COVID-19 held a briefing on the clinical treatment status amid the increase in confirmed cases at the research building of the National Medical Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. From left to right: Kim Nam-jung, Head of the Infectious Diseases Department at Seoul National University Hospital; Oh Myung-don, Professor of Infectious Diseases at Seoul National University and TF Advisory Committee Chair; Bang Ji-hwan, TF Team Leader (Director of the Central Infectious Disease Hospital Operations Center); Jin Beom-sik, attending physician for patients 2, 13, 23, and 24. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporters Choi Dae-yeol, Kim Heung-soon] Medical staff at the National Medical Center who treated patients with the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) assessed that the severity and transmissibility of this disease are lower than those of the previous Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). However, they expressed the view that the generation time is short, causing secondary and tertiary infections around patients to occur quickly.

Bang Ji-hwan, head of the Novel Coronavirus Infection Central Clinical TF Team at the National Medical Center (Director of the Central Infectious Disease Hospital Operation Center), said at a briefing on the 7th, "Based on discussions among medical staff treating novel coronavirus patients, clinically it is not a severe disease," adding, "During MERS, many patients required ventilators, ECMO, or renal dialysis, but so far there are no severe cases this time."

He continued, "In infectious diseases, transmissibility is as important as severity. Looking at the basic reproduction number (R0), SARS was about 3, MERS was about 4 within hospitals and 0.6 outside hospitals," and said, "The novel coronavirus is estimated to be around 2." R0 is an indicator showing how many people one infected person transmits the virus to, meaning one novel coronavirus patient infects about two others.

"High Death Toll in China Due to Lack of Critical Care Medical System"
2 of 24 Domestic Patients Discharged... More Possible Discharges Expected

Although the number of patients is rapidly increasing mainly in Hubei Province, including Wuhan, China, the transmissibility itself is not considered very high. Bang explained that rather than strong infectivity, the short generation time causes rapid expansion. Generation time refers to the period from the start of infection to the point when viral shedding is highest and infectivity peaks. Compared to MERS, the virus decline rate is also judged to be faster.

Regarding the large number of deaths centered in Wuhan, China, he said, "It is possible that patients in critical condition did not receive proper treatment." According to data released by Chinese health authorities, the fatality rate of the novel coronavirus (the proportion of deaths from the disease) is relatively high at about 4.9%, but nationwide it is around 2.1%, and excluding Hubei Province where Wuhan is located, it is only about 0.16%. This means that due to the sudden influx of patients, there was a shortage of facilities and personnel for immediate treatment, resulting in many deaths.

On the 7th, the Lotte Department Store Main Branch in Jung-gu, Seoul, where a confirmed case of the novel coronavirus infection was identified, will temporarily close until the 9th. Customers are leaving the department store after hearing the closure news. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

Oh Myung-don, professor of infectious diseases at Seoul National University and TF advisory chairman, said, "The Chinese government statistics calculate the fatality rate based on pneumonia patients," adding, "There are only about 110 intensive care beds in Wuhan, so the medical system was overloaded."

As of today, there are 24 confirmed novel coronavirus cases in South Korea. Including patients being treated at the National Medical Center, most are reported to be in stable condition. According to medical staff, a TF composed of attending physicians and hospital personnel for each patient is currently sharing treatment progress.

Professor Kim Nam-joong of the Infectious Diseases Department at Seoul National University Hospital, treating four patients, said, "Their condition is stable, and one patient is ready for discharge." Professor Jin Beom-sik at the National Medical Center, where three patients are being treated following the first discharge on the 5th, said, "Both of the two repatriated Koreans transferred have mild symptoms, and patient number 23, a traveler from China, has only a slight fever and headache but is stable." He added that some patients tested negative for the virus.

On the afternoon of the 7th, at the Central Clinical Task Force (TF) press conference on the novel coronavirus infection held in the research building of the National Medical Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, Bang Ji-hwan, TF team leader (Director of the Central Infectious Disease Hospital Operations Center), answered questions regarding the clinical treatment status amid the increase in confirmed cases.
From the left: Kim Nam-joong, Head of the Infectious Diseases Department at Seoul National University Hospital; Oh Myung-don, Professor of Infectious Diseases at Seoul National University and TF Advisory Committee Chair; Bang Ji-hwan, TF team leader (Director of the Central Infectious Disease Hospital Operations Center); Jin Beom-sik, primary physician for the 2nd, 13th, 23rd, and 24th patients.

End of Infectious Disease Outbreak Requires Consideration of Complex Factors Such as Population Density and Climate
Infectious Disease TF to Promote Sharing of Patient Treatment Cases Between Countries

It is expected that the infectious disease outbreak will not end within a few weeks. Bang said, "The spread of infectious diseases is influenced by various complex factors such as population density, climate, and international exchanges, so it is impossible to know when it will end," but added, "Although not based on exact evidence, many experts feel that it might end around summer as the number of patients increases."

Professor Oh said, "Since it is a new virus, predictions are difficult," adding, "It is a matter of accurately understanding the current situation, obtaining data, and making decisions, but at present, it is impossible to confidently say whether it is serious or not."

The TF is currently organizing symptoms and treatment methods for each patient being treated into a single form and is promoting sharing the same information with other countries abroad. This is to compile case reports for each patient in the same format to establish more accurate evidence. This approach was not attempted during the MERS outbreak.

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