"Crafty" COVID-19 Virus According to Experts

Health Authorities and Experts: "Different from Previously Prevalent Infectious Disease Viruses"
Increased Early Mild Transmission Power · Asymptomatic Infection · Patients Complain Less Compared to Symptoms

The closure of the Korea Building in Sindorim-dong, Guro-gu, Seoul, where the largest cluster infection of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the metropolitan area occurred, was partially lifted at midnight on the 16th for some areas (offices and business spaces on floors 1 to 6). Guro-gu, Seoul, lifted the closure order for the Korea Building at midnight on the 16th. The closure order for the call center floors, 7 to 12, will be maintained until the 22nd, and the decision to lift it will be made later depending on the situation. The photo shows the thermal imaging camera screening station set up in the building lobby on that day. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] "Although cautious, if I were to metaphorically describe the virus itself, I would say it is quite a 'sly virus.' Some clinical experts also express similar views..."

This is the expression of Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters overseeing COVID-19 prevention efforts (Director of the National Institute of Health). As a senior official of the health authorities and a physician, he summarized this after compiling opinions exchanged with related experts during the course of prevention work.

The transmission behavior of the virus and the clinical features of infected patients differ from other viruses so far, and it is considered to have evolved extensively to deceive humanity. Deputy Director Kwon explained at a briefing on the 17th, "(COVID-19) spreads a lot of virus even before symptoms appear, and in mild cases, the transmission power is high," adding, "Even asymptomatic confirmed patients emit a certain amount of virus."

Due to the ease of transmission from the early mild stage, the authorities explain that prevention efforts to stop the virus spread are not easy. Typically, when a respiratory virus enters our body, it undergoes a replication process first. Only after increasing in number does our body respond with fever or cough, and at the same time, transmission to others becomes possible.

Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, giving a briefing

On the other hand, the current judgment of health authorities and medical staff in charge is that this COVID-19 virus can be transmitted even when there are no symptoms or when the patient is unaware of mild symptoms. This is why epidemiological investigations trace back to one day before symptoms appear after a confirmed diagnosis.

Regarding asymptomatic infection, synthesizing clinical data accumulated from cases in China, it is considered a "scientific fact" (Oh Myung-don, Chair of the Central Clinical Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases) according to expert consensus. In the case of patient number 28 reported last month, the diagnosis was confirmed about 17 days after contact with a previously confirmed patient. Considering that the typical incubation period for respiratory viruses is up to two weeks, this was an unusual case. However, the authorities judged that since this patient had received other treatments and medications, it was a case where symptom onset was delayed due to other drugs rather than developing after the incubation period.

Clinical specialists responsible for treating confirmed patients also viewed the virus as having unique characteristics. Some patients, young or without underlying diseases, were discharged within a week. Some patients progressed to pneumonia with severe symptoms but showed almost no outward symptoms. Professor Jin Beom-sik of the Infectious Diseases Department at the National Medical Center said, "In some cases, pneumonia is significantly advanced on computed tomography (CT), but the patient hardly complains of symptoms."

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