New Coronavirus, No Additional Domestic Cases... Surge in Suspected Patients (Comprehensive)

A notice prohibiting visits and controlling access is posted at the main building of Seoul National University Hospital. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] No new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) have been reported in South Korea over the past two days. Among the existing patients, the symptoms of the 3rd and 4th confirmed cases have reportedly improved significantly to the point where discharge is being considered. However, since confirmed patients have visited multi-use facilities and the routes and number of contacts are still being identified, the situation cannot be considered safe yet.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters as of 4 p.m. on the 8th, the total number of domestic patients is 24. Since the 24th confirmed case, a 28-year-old male evacuee from Wuhan staying at the Police Human Resources Development Institute in Asan, Chungnam, was diagnosed on the 6th, no additional patients have been reported. However, the number of suspected cases who underwent testing due to symptoms increased from 1,328 as of the previous afternoon, 1,677 as of 9 a.m. on the day, to 2,073, surpassing 2,000 for the first time. From the 7th, the 'case definition' was expanded to allow diagnostic testing based on a doctor's opinion for those who have traveled to all regions of China as well as countries where the novel coronavirus is prevalent. With the increase in testing institutions, including 124 public health centers, the number of suspected cases has surged. Among the suspected cases, 1,134 tested negative, and the remaining 939 are still undergoing testing.

◆ "Symptoms of 3rd and 4th patients have disappeared, discharge undecided"= The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that the symptoms of the 3rd patient (54-year-old male, Korean) and the 4th patient (55-year-old male, Korean) have disappeared. Kwak Jin, head of the epidemiological investigation and patient management team at the Central Headquarters, said, "The 3rd patient is generally in good condition, and subjective symptoms have almost resolved," adding, "The 4th patient is also stable, and subjective symptoms have nearly disappeared. We are planning discharge based on test results."

He explained, "Isolation release occurs after the patient's symptoms improve and 48 hours have passed, followed by two genetic tests, both of which must be negative. This means there is no infectiousness and no risk of transmitting the virus to others. This is separate from discharge considerations such as underlying diseases or sequelae."

Accordingly, no patients are scheduled for discharge today. The 3rd and 4th patients were confirmed on the 26th and 27th of last month and are currently hospitalized at Myongji Hospital and Bundang Seoul National University Hospital, respectively. Among the 24 confirmed domestic patients, the 1st and 2nd patients have already been discharged. On the 7th, Professor Kim Nam-joong of the Infectious Diseases Department at Seoul National University Hospital, who is treating patients there, stated, "One of the four patients may be discharged soon."

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. Next to the closure notice, customers wearing masks are leaving the department store. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

◆ Visited department stores and marts... "23rd patient's contacts total 23"= The Central Headquarters revealed that the 23rd confirmed patient, a 57-year-old Chinese woman, had contact with a total of 23 people. This patient developed symptoms on the 3rd and was confirmed to have visited the President Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, Lotte Department Store Main Branch in Jung-gu, Seoul, Emart Mapo Gongdeok Branch in Mapo-gu, Seoul, and accommodation in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, from the day before symptom onset on the 2nd until she was transferred to the National Medical Center on the 6th. She was a subject of a full investigation after entering the country on the 23rd of last month for tourism purposes from Wuhan.

Detailed information about the specific stores the 23rd patient visited in the department store and mart has not been disclosed. Team leader Kwak said, "When a patient visits places like department stores, marts, or shopping malls, we first confirm the time they entered the building and then identify detailed routes. We are currently investigating which stores the 23rd patient visited and expect to provide additional information."

This patient’s movements during the ten days from arrival in Korea until symptom onset were not disclosed, causing controversy. Jung Eun-kyung, director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, explained, "Investigating and disclosing up to one day before symptom onset is the standard applied to all patients. Due to infection risk, it is not appropriate under law or information disclosure principles to reveal routes that do not pose transmission or infection risk beyond necessary information for the public."

Image source=Yonhap News

◆ 19th patient visited 7 stores at Songdo outlet= The 19th patient, a 36-year-old male who had traveled to Singapore, was additionally reported to have visited seven stores including Samsung Electronics and Polo at Hyundai Premium Outlet Songdo in Incheon after symptom onset. He arrived at the Hyundai Premium Outlet Songdo at 4:26 p.m. on the 1st by his parents' car and stayed for about two hours until 6:25 p.m., visiting seven stores from basement level 1 to the second floor.

The first store visited was 'Susu Garden' on basement level 1, where he stayed from 4:41 p.m. to 5:08 p.m. He then went to 'Samsung Electronics' on the same floor from 5:09 p.m. to 5:17 p.m. On the first floor, he visited the 'Polo' store for two minutes starting at 5:20 p.m., then immediately moved to the second floor. On the second floor, he visited 'Olzen' (5:25?5:27 p.m.), 'Brooks Brothers' (5:27?5:38 p.m.), 'Galaxy' (5:39?5:50 p.m.), and 'Form Studio' (5:54?6:10 p.m.).

This patient was confirmed to have contacted 65 people while moving between Songpa-gu in Seoul, Bundang-gu in Seongnam, Gagnam-gu in Seoul, and Songdo in Incheon. Previously, the 17th patient (37-year-old male) and he both attended a business meeting of a private company held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Singapore and were confirmed positive consecutively. According to cooperation between Korean and Singaporean health authorities, 109 people attended the event, including 94 foreigners. It was confirmed that Chinese attendees, including residents of Hubei Province, China, were present at the event.

Image source=Yonhap News

◆ 16th patient who traveled to Thailand confirmed to have contacted 362 people= The 16th patient, a 42-year-old female, was confirmed to have contacted a total of 362 people domestically. The number of contacts includes 325 at Gwangju 21st Century Hospital where the patient stayed, 20 at Chonnam National University Hospital, and 17 family members and acquaintances. Among them, two family members were confirmed positive and classified as the 18th patient (21-year-old female) and the 22nd patient (46-year-old male), respectively. The health authorities stated, "The remaining contacts are under self-quarantine and other measures."

At the time the 16th patient was confirmed, 46 staff members were present at the hospital; 14 had contact with the patient, and 32 did not. The Central Headquarters reported, "Tests were conducted on 134 people including inpatients, caregivers, and guardians regardless of contact with the 16th patient, and all tested negative."

Meanwhile, as of this date, the total number of contacts of confirmed novel coronavirus patients in South Korea is 1,420, an increase of 34 from the 1,386 announced the previous day. The number of people under isolation measures is 1,090. Among the contacts, nine have been confirmed positive: one contact of the 3rd patient, one of the 5th patient, three of the 6th patient, one of the 12th patient, one of the 15th patient, and two of the 16th patient.

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