Updates on COVID-19 in Republic of Korea

9 April 2020

○ As of 0:00, 9 April 2020, a total of 10,423 cases (including 861 imported cases) have been confirmed, of which 6,973 cases have been discharged from isolation. Newly confirmed cases are 39 in total.

[Table 1. Total confirmed and suspected cases]

[Table 2. Imported cases in Korea (as of 0:00, 9 April 2020)]

* Figures may change based on findings from ongoing local epidemiological investigation efforts.

○ Epidemiological links have been found for 81.9% of the total cases; 9.8% are either under investigation or sporadic cases. More details on the epidemiological links within each province or city are shown in Table 2.

○ From a bar (Liquid Soul) in Seocho-gu, Seoul, 4 cases have been confirmed since 6 April. Epidemiological investigation is underway.

○ From a wine bar (UnWined) in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, 4 additional cases have been confirmed since 4 April. In total, 17 cases (wine bar = 13; family/acquaintances of confirmed cases = 4) have been confirmed. (The figures on Table 2 are based on cases reported to KCDC before 0:00 of 9 April and may differ from above.)

○ In addition, 2 cases were confirmed who were workers at a nightlife entertainment venue in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Since nightlife venues tend to be closed spaces which make it easier for infectious virus to spread, KCDC asked people to be particularly cautious about such venues.

Nightlife entertainment venues are under limited operation on the condition that they follow the infectious disease prevention and control guidelines. The venues that remain in operation must strictly comply with the guidelines set forth by the infectious disease prevention and control authorities including disinfection, ventilation, distancing between users, and mandatory mask wearing.

○ KCDC is continuously monitoring for any occurrence of gene mutations in the virus responsible for COVID-19.

To date, no significant gene mutations affecting infectivity or pathogenicity of the virus has been found based on the results of analysis of 73 viral gene sequences obtained from patients in Korea.

○ To improve testing efficiency, KCDC and Korean Society for Laboratory Medicine has jointly prepared a protocol for pooled testing.

Pooled testing (or sample pooling) is a method in which biological samples from multiple people are combined into a testing pool and tested via a single test. In the case of a positive result, individual testing is carried out in previously reserved samples. This method is useful for screening asymptomatic high-risk groups.

○ In light of the continued rise in the number of imported cases, KCDC again urged inbound travelers who boarded from overseas to comply with home quarantine guidelines.

Persons under home quarantine (self-quarantine) are required to follow the self-quarantine guidelines provided. They must not share their utensils, towels and other personal belongings with their family, refrain from coming in contact with family members, roommates, or cohabitants.

○ Starting 5 April, stronger penalty is applied to persons who violate mandatory home quarantine (self-quarantine). Failure to comply with mandatory home quarantine is punishable by imprisonment up to 1 year or a fine up to 10 million won in accordance with Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act.

[Table 3: Regional distribution and epidemiological links of the confirmed cases]

[Figure 1: Distribution of confirmed cases based on location reported]

* Refer to attachment