Updates on COVID-19 in Republic of Korea

8 June, 2020

○ As of 0:00, 8 June 2020, the total number of confirmed cases is 11,814 (including 1,297 imported cases), of which 10,563 cases have been discharged from isolation. Newly confirmed cases are 38 in total.

[Table 1. Total reported/tested cases]

[Table 2. Imported cases in Korea (as of 0:00, 8 June 2020)]

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

○ Of the 38 new cases, 5 were imported cases and 33 were locally transmitted cases.

- Of the 5 imported cases, 3 are from America, 2 from India.

○ Related to the nightclub cluster, 1 additional case was confirmed from testing at the end of self-quarantine period. In total, 274* cases have been confirmed related to the nightclubs.

  * Club visitors=96; Contacts =178 / Seoul City=136, Gyeonggi Province=59, Incheon City=54, Chungbuk Province=9, Busan City=4, Daegu City=2, Gyeongnam Province=2, Gangwon Province=2, Jeonbuk Province=2, Daejeon City=1, Chungnam Province=1, Gyeongbuk Province=1, Jeju Province=1

○ Related to the Coupang logistics center cluster in Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi Province, 5 additional cases were confirmed. 4 were confirmed from testing at the end of self-quarantine period. 1 was a contact and was confirmed while under quarantine. In total, 138* cases have been confirmed.

  * 83 workers of the logistics center; 55 contacts / Gyeonggi=65, Incheon=52, Seoul=21

○ Related to the newly planted churches in the Seoul Metropolitan Region, 4 additional cases were confirmed. In total, 86* cases have been confirmed.

  * Related to church = 31; Contacts = 55 / Incheon = 45; Seoul = 26; Gyeonggi = 15

○ Related to Richway in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 7 additional cases were confirmed. In total, 52 case have been confirmed.

  * Seoul = 31; Gyeonggi = 10; Incheon = 8; Chungnam = 2; Gangwon = 1 / Visitors = 33; Contacts = 19

○ Related to sports facility in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, 41 cases in total have been confirmed. Epidemiological investigation revealed that a person who visited the table tennis court in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul City on 28 May attended service at Big Tree Church in Yongin-si, Gyeonggi Province on 31 May. Based on this new finding, the two clusters are now classified together and renamed as “Yangcheon-gu sports facility”.

  * Related to the table tennis facility = 22; Related to Big Tree Church = 19

○ Related to Gunpo/Anyang pastors group, 2 new cases were confirmed. Both were confirmed while under self-quarantine period. In total, 21* cases have been confirmed.

  * Attendees of the pastors group gathering = 7; Contacts = 14 (Family = 7; Church members = 4; Coworkers = 3)

○ In Happy Care Home in Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi Province, 1 additional case was confirmed. The new case was a resident of the care home and was under isolation at hospital. In total, 9 cases have been confirmed to date.

  * 2 care workers, 6 residents, 1 social worker

○ A student of Won Mook High School in Jungnang-gu, Seoul City was confirmed on 7 June. Testing is underway for approximately 800 people including students, staff, family, friends, and acquaintances.

- It has been found that the student visited Lotte World Adventure on 5 June. People who visited Lotte World Adventure during 12:15-21:00 of Friday, 5 June have been notified and instructed to get tested at a screening clinic via emergency/public safety alerts on mobile devices. Students and staff who have visited the facility have been requested to stop going to school until their test results are available.

○ Recently, COVID-19 transmissions are occurring through various venues such as religious small group meetings, club meetings, door-to-door sales group meetings in Seoul Metropolitan Region (Seoul and nearby areas) with high population density and foot traffic. If the transmission continues and occurs at a highly crowded and confined space with a large number of people, a massive outbreak may occur at any time.

- Recent outbreaks have emerged from confined, poorly ventilated area where activities that make a large amount of respiratory droplets travel in air such as singing, eating, snacking, and sporting took place. Mask wearing, hand hygiene, and other preventive measures were not closely followed.

- Since COVID-19 outbreak can occur from any venue under crowded, confined, and close-contact environment, residents of the Seoul Metropolitan Region are advised to postpone social plans and gatherings or use non-face-to-face alternatives and avoid using public venues such as restaurants and bars.

○ In particular, elderly people who are 65 years old or older are requested to avoid any enclosed space that is poorly ventilated where a large number of people can gather together.

- If such an occasion is unavoidable, sharing meals and singing should be avoided. Masks should be worn and frequent hand washing or sanitizing should be practiced.

- It is also important for the elderly is take good care of any chronic medical conditions they have and exercise regularly.

○ With students in middle school grade 1 and elementary school grades 5-6 returning to in-person classrooms today, the final phase of phased school reopening has been completed and students of all grades have returned to school. KCDC urged everyone to follow major COVID-19 prevention measures in schools.

- Students who have fever or respiratory symptoms in the morning should not go to school. Facemasks should be worn at all times while in school. Masks should be worn at all times while in school. Places such as singing rooms, PC cafes, entertainment facilities, and other public venues should be avoided.

- Staff including teachers should not go to work if having COVID-19 suspected symptoms and should avoid public venues such as nightclubs, bars, singing rooms and PC cafes. Attendance at club meetings and religious small group gatherings should also be avoided.

- Any student or school staff having symptoms should get tested at a screening clinic. After receiving a test, they should immediately return home without stopping at other places and stay at home. At home, the student or staff should avoid coming in contact with other household members, wash hands frequently, wear a mask at home, and practice other precautions to prevent family transmission.

- Although no transmission in schools have been reported to date, contacts under incubation period are being monitored. With all students back in school, stronger efforts to prevent in-school transmission are needed including monitoring suspected cases, symptom checking, ventilating and disinfecting, and maintaining proper distance.

[Table 4: Regional distribution and epidemiological links of the confirmed cases]

[Figure 3: Daily new confirmed cases by chain of transmission]

             TOTAL

             Seoul City

             Incheon City

             Gyeonggi Province

             Daegu City

             Gyeongbuk Province

[Table 5: Age distribution of severe cases]

[Figure 4: New cases (for last 2 weeks) by chain of transmission]