Authorities: "COVID-19 Can Be Transmitted 2 Days Before Symptom Onset... Considering Guideline Changes" (Update)

A woman in her 20s, identified as Ms. A, who recently returned from Spain and was diagnosed with COVID-19 in Jeju on the 24th, is being transferred to the negative pressure ward at Jeju National University Hospital this afternoon.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] Regarding the research findings that the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) can be transmitted two days before symptoms appear, health authorities announced on the 26th that they are considering applying this to domestic guidelines. Currently, it is assumed that transmission to others is possible from one day before symptom onset, and epidemiological investigations are conducted based on one day prior to symptom onset, but this may change.

At a briefing on the same day, Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters for COVID-19, stated, "There are World Health Organization (WHO) research results indicating that the virus can be shed from one day or even up to two days before symptoms appear," adding, "We are currently reviewing this internally and are working on revising the guidelines by synthesizing other reference materials and research findings."

Generally, even if infected with a respiratory virus, the ability to transmit to others is weak when there are no symptoms. While symptoms appear during the early replication process of the infection and the virus is shed enough to infect others, COVID-19 is characterized by transmission to others even when the patient has almost no symptoms in the early stages of infection. Domestic and international experts also acknowledge the possibility of asymptomatic infection.

However, current related guidelines assume that the virus is shed from one day before symptom onset and conduct epidemiological investigations and disclosure of movement paths accordingly. The requirement for diagnostic testing within three days for asymptomatic entrants from Europe and other countries is also a measure reflecting this point. If the guidelines are revised to reflect this, the scope of epidemiological investigations conducted by health authorities and local governments is expected to expand somewhat.

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