The updates of COVID-19 in Republic of Korea 

As of Feb 27, 2020 

○ Compared to yesterday morning (09:00, 27 February, 2020), 449 additional cases are confirmed, which brings the total number of confirmed cases to 1,595 with 1,559 cases in isolation. 35,298 turned out to be negative and 21,097 are currently being tested.

* The 37th case, a Korean male born in 1973 and the 51th case, a Korean female born in 1959 were discharged

** The 114th case, a Korean male born in 1946 passed away on 27 February. He belongs tp Shincheonji cluster and the cause of death is currently investigated.

※ The 24th case(Korean male, born in 1992) who discharged on 27 February, and the 1443th case(Korean male, born in 1945) who passed away on 27 February will be reflected at 16:00 press release.

○ Including 449 newly confirmed cases, the total of 1,595 cases are classified by the clusters and the regions as follows.

○ As of 27 February, 11 cases have been confirmed in Seoul which are related to Eunpyeong St. Mary hospital. Confirmed cases and contacts are in isolation and under epidemiological investigation.

○ 58 cases have been confirmed in Busan, 29 of which are related to Onchun Church. There are 2 cases confirmed in Asiad hospital and are under cohort-isolation, and 312 out of 314 are tested negative.

○ In Gyeong-buk province, confirmed cases were reported mainly in community centers and shelters. 23 out of 69 residents in Milal Shelter, 2 out of 88 residents in Kukrak Community Shelter, and 1 out of 11 residents in Daram Community Shelter were confirmed. The surveillance on such facilities will be therefore strengthened.

○ The 114 confirmed cases in Cheongdo Daenam Hospital who have been under isolation will transfer to the National center for Mental Health.

○ With regard to Shincheonji cluster, the flight attendant (Korean female, born in 1995) who has been on board with the tour group are confirmed positive. The whereabout and contacts of confirmed cases, and the passengers who were onboard after the onset of symptom are under investigation.

     * Flight information: Departure from Los Angeles 22:40 20th Feb, Arrival at Incheon 05:10 22th Feb(KE 012)

○ Government has taken step to public health measure to response the sporadic cases beyond the “special management zone” where a surging COVID-19 largely linked to a Shincheonji religious sect and Cheongdo Daenam Hospital.

○ Currently, local governments are conducting epidemiological investigations and quarantine measure after reporting to Korea Centers for Disease control and prevention(KCDC). From now on, the local governments will first conduct basic epidemiological investigations and quarantine measures, then report their actions step by step.

○ KCDC is preparing the training and technical support system to strengthen on the epidemiological investigation capacities so that the rapid response system of local government can operate more effectively.

○ The outbreak of “Special management area” is now confirmed by affected people exposed around 16th February, passing through the incubation period, and sequentially checked through the COVID-19 test.