[Q&A] Authorities: "Complete Eradication of COVID-19 Difficult... Must Slow Spread and Reduce Damage"

Jung Eun-kyung, Director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters (Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency)

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] As the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) continues to rise both domestically and internationally, the quarantine authorities have once again emphasized a strategy to manage the situation within a controllable range. This is due to the ongoing small-scale cluster infections at the community level, subsequent infections from contact with confirmed cases, and the increasing number of patients entering the country after being infected overseas.

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said at a briefing on the 18th, "Although domestic transmission is clear, overseas transmission will continue, so we judge that it is difficult to completely reduce (COVID-19 patients) to zero."

She added, "It is necessary to implement a damage minimization strategy that slows the speed and reduces the scale of the outbreak, such as preventing a surge in patients from causing severe cases to be unable to receive proper treatment and resulting in deaths. While preparing for a long-term battle, we are considering appropriate measures by simultaneously working to reduce the overall number of infections and the death toll among high-risk groups."

On the afternoon of the 18th, 75 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 were identified at Daegu Hansarang Nursing Hospital located in Seo-gu, Daegu.

The following is a Q&A with Head Jung Eun-kyung.

- How do you view the possibility of COVID-19 cases being imported from overseas?

▲ Among the recently confirmed new patients, nearly 5% are imported cases. As the COVID-19 outbreak spreads worldwide, the possibility of importation is considered to be very high. Starting tomorrow (the 19th at 0:00), special entry procedures for all arrivals will be implemented, and discussions are currently underway to strengthen post-entry management for countries with a high risk of cases. Domestic transmission through group facilities is still ongoing, so social distancing, adherence to personal hygiene rules, and early testing and diagnosis of suspected cases must be pursued more precisely and effectively.

- The director of Bundang Jesaeng Hospital tested positive; has the infection route been identified?

▲ The patient experienced headaches on the 11th and 12th, which are considered the onset dates, and an epidemiological investigation is underway. We are identifying contacts within the hospital, including hospital director meetings, and investigating individual risk levels and exposures. It is still difficult to definitively determine the exact infection route. However, there was an outbreak within the hospital, and a significant number of medical staff tested positive, so we will investigate the possibility of contact with medical personnel. The initial tests during the first hospital outbreak were negative, and at that time, the patient was not classified as a contact.

- What are the nationalities and most recent departure countries of the five confirmed cases detected during today's quarantine process?

▲ All 11 patients recently confirmed through quarantine are Korean nationals. Their travel histories mostly include countries with more than 2,000 cases such as Italy, France, the Netherlands, Germany, and the United Kingdom. There are also cases from Thailand, Egypt, and about three who have visited the United States.

- Is it impossible to forcibly close places like cafes and academies?

- Currently, voluntary isolation and social distancing are continuously recommended. Blocking transmission between people is important, and in this case, risky facilities are those where many people gather. If the risk of community infection is high or additional measures are deemed necessary, such measures can be considered among various possibilities. There are no quantified criteria for this.

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