Updates on COVID-19 in Republic of Korea

14 July, 2020

□ As of 0:00, 14 July 2020, the total number of confirmed cases is 13,512 (including 1,891 imported cases), of which 12,282 cases have been discharged from isolation. There are 14 new local cases, 19 new imported cases, and 0 new deaths.

[Table 1. Total reported/tested cases]
Period (since 3 Jan)	Total	Tested positive (PCR)				Testing in progress	Tested negative (PCR)
		Confirmed	Discharged from isolation	Under isolation	Deceased
As of 0:00 13 July (Mon)	1,408,312	13,479	12,204	986	289	21,845	1,372,988
As of 0:00 14 July (Tue)	1,420,616	13,512	12,282	941	289	24,289	1,382,815
Difference	(+)12,304	(+)33	(+)78	(-)45	-	(+)2,444	(+)9,827

□ The current state* of major local clusters as of today (as of 12:00, 14 July) are as follows:

* The specific figures below may differ from the daily reported statistics (which are based on figures as of 0:00 today) or figures disclosed by local municipalities due to factors such as report timing and differences in the time period considered

 

○ Related to an office in Gwanak-gu, Seoul City, 7 additional cases were confirmed after the index case (a visitor) was confirmed on 12 July. In total, 8* cases have been confirmed.

* Seoul = 3 cases, Gyeonggi = 3 cases, Jeonbuk = 2 cases

 

○ Related to the Yeoksam-dong V Building in Gangnam-gu, Seoul City, 7* additional cases were confirmed after the index case was confirmed on 2 July. In total, 8 cases have been confirmed.

* Categorized as a cluster as a result of epidemiological investigation of a confirmed case with links to an office in the Yeoksam-dong Victoria Building

* visitors = 4, acquaintance and family members = 3

 

○ Related to telecommunications-related workers in Gangnam-gu, Seoul City, 4* additional cases were confirmed after the index case was confirmed on 11 July. In total, 5 cases have been confirmed.

* 1 co-worker from a directly managed telecommunications store, 1 co-worker from a distributor-managed store, 2 family members

 

○ Related to a family in Yeongtong-gu, Suwon City, 1 additional case was confirmed. In total, 7* cases have been confirmed.

* Gyeonggi = 6 cases, Seoul = 1 case

 

○ Related to the door-to-door sales group in Gwangju City, 1 additional case was confirmed. The new case is related to T WORLD (mobile phone store). In total, 141* cases have been confirmed.

Category	Index case confirmed	Number of related confirmed cases
Gwangneuksa Temple	27 June	14
Geumyang Building (officetel)	27 June	26
Tourist group	30 June	5
Gwangju Love Church	30 June	17
CCC Agape Silver Center	30 June	7
Hanwul Nursing Home	1 July	11
Gwangju Ilgok Central Church	2 July	21
SM Sauna	1 July	7
T WORLD (mobile phone store)	4 July	7 (+1)
Gwangju Gosi Hagwon	8 July	16
Happy View Hospital	30 June	1
Badminton club	1 July	9
Total		141

              * Subject to change based on findings from epidemiological investigation

 

□ As of 0:00, 14 July, there were 19 imported cases, of which, 12 were confirmed at the point of entry, and 7 were confirmed in the community while under mandatory self-quarantine upon arrival.

 

○ The (presumed) location of infection acquisition of the 19 new imported cases are: America (4) (US 3, Mexico 1), Africa (4) (Republic of South Africa 2, Ethiopia 2), and Asia excluding China (11) (Kazakhstan 5; Uzbekistan 2; Philippines 1; Kyrgyzstan 1; Iraq 1; Russia 1).

 

[Table 2. Imported cases in Korea (as of 0:00, 14 July 2020) ]
	Total	Region/Country						Where confirmed		Nationality
		China	Asia ex-China	Europe	Americas	Africa	Australia	Point of Entry	Community	Korean	Other
New	19	0	11	0	4	4	0	12	7	9	10
Total	1,891	19	671	508	666	26	1	863	1,028	1,334	557
		(1.0%)	(35.5%)	(26.9%)	(35.2%)	(1.4%)	(0.1%)	(45.6%)	(54.4%)	(70.5%)	(29.5%)

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

 

 

□ In response to the recent imported cases, KCDC will continue to analyze the COVID-19 situation in other countries and formulate practical response plans to prevent importation of cases from abroad.

 

○ The number of today’s new confirmed cases worldwide* is 190,924.

* New confirmed cases by day: 2,125 (1 February) → 1,232 (1 March) → 72,045 (1 April) → 83,271 (1 May) → 104,195 (1 June) → 169,401 (1 July)

 

○ Compared to the week prior (28 June ~ 4 July), cases are increasing* in most continents. Weekly new case numbers were: Latin America 444,283 (31.9%), North America 382,479 (27.4%), and Asia 260,260 (18.6%), when ordered from highest to lowest.

* US, Brazil, and India’s new case numbers accounted for 60% of new cases worldwide last week

○ Recent COVID-19 control situation of other countries are;

 

- For the last 2 weeks (28 June ~ 11 July), there were 11 countries with over 120 cumulative confirmed cases per 100,000 population, including the US, Brazil, and Kazakhstan (others include the Dominican Republic, Panama, Peru, Chile, Bolivia, Republic of South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Armenia). (Based on ECDC, as of 13 July)

 

<Confirmed Cases per 100,000 Population (ECDC, 13 July)>

- In the case of the US, daily confirmed cases have reached record-breaking numbers of over 50,000, to which 16 states have responded by postponing or taking back plans to reopen their economies.

 

<Daily Confirmed Cases in the US (as of 13 July)>

 

- In the case of Japan, daily new cases number at about 200, and new clusters are centered around nightlife venues and Japan’s younger population.

 

○ During weeks 12 to 16, when imported cases were on the rise, cases consisted mostly of Korean nationals and students returning from abroad. Starting from week 20, the proportion of cases involving foreign nationals began to increase. Starting from week 24, the proportion of cases involving foreign nationals were greater than that involving Korean nationals. During weeks 25 to 28, the number of imported confirmed cases and cases involving foreign nationals* both increased.

        * Week 27 58.5% (69 cases / 118 cases) vs. Week 28 73.4% (116 cases / 158 cases), Increase

 

○ In order to stop the transmission of COVID-19 from imported cases to the local community,

 

- KCDC conducted the COVID-19 infection risk assessment and designated certain countries as high risk countries which requires strengthened infectious disease prevention and control, such as:

 

▴ Limiting visa issuance and flight schedule

▴ Having regular flights fly under 60% seat capacity

▴ Limiting re-entry of individuals to Korea when departing for designated countries.

 

- Starting yesterday (13 July), all foreign nationals arriving from designated high risk countries must be in possession of a negative PCR test* that was issued within 48 hours prior to the time of departure. These test results will be submitted upon entry into Korea.

         * Issued from testing/medical facilities designated by Republic of Korea’s overseas embassies or consulates

 

- Other than these measures, irregular flights from countries with a risk of rapid increase in numbers will be reduced, based on the live monitoring of imported cases.

 

□ KCDC revealed that 390 cured patients (15 additional participants) have signed up to donate their plasma for the development of COVID-19 plasma therapy. Plasma collection has been completed for 182 of the donors as of today.

* Plasma therapy requires a large amount of blood as it involves formulating a concentrated form of the antibodies and immunoglobulin from the blood of people who have recovered from COVID-19.

 

○ KCDC expressed gratitude for the additional people who signed up to donate their plasma, and encouraged more eligible people to participate.

* Participating hospitals: Korea University Ansan Hospital, Keimyung University Dongsan Hospital, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu Fatima Hospital / For inquiries, dial 1522-6487

 

□ KCDC stated that 24 hospitals with 49 severe patients whave submitted their requests, received ‘Remdesivir,’ which has been specially imported for COVID-19 treatment.

 

□ KCDC advised caution as the consistent local community transmissions are occurring in publicly-used facilities, social gatherings, long-term care facilities, and educational facilities.

<Recent Major Clusters as of 18:00, 13 July>

Category	Recent clusters, number of confirmed cases
Door-to-door sales	Seoul metropolitan area door-to-door sales (40), Gwangju door-to-door sales (Geumyang building, 26), Daejeon door-to-door sales (87), Gangnam office (water heating pad related business) (12)
Publicly-used facilities, social gatherings	Uijeongbu cluster/fitness facilities (31), Gwangju badminton club (9), SM Sauna (7)
Religious facilities	Seoul Wangsung Church (39), Anyang Lord Glory Church (26), (Gwangju) Gwangneuksa Temple (14)/Ilgok Central Church (21)/Love Church (17)
Nursing homes, hospitals/clinics	Gwangmyeong Soo Clinic Center (5), Daejeon The Joeun Clinic (18), (Gwangju) CCC Agape Silver Center (7), Hanwul Nursing Home (11)
Educational facilities	Daegu Acting Academy (10), Gwangju Gosi Hagwon (16)

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

 

○ COVID-19 can spread in a closed, crowded, and close-contact settings. Therefore, people are urged to postpone social gatherings and activities or alter to non-face-to-face methods, while refraining from going to door-to-door sales activities or publicly used facilities.

 

- Hand washing, mask wearing, and social distancing (2m recommended) should be practied in everyday life.

 

□ KCDC advised caution since the water damage from the rainy season may also cause increased of various infectious diseases (waterborne infectious diseases, mosquito-borne diseases, skin disease, etc.).

 

○ Infectious diseases that mainly occur during the rainy season are;

 

- Waterborne infectious diseases transmitted by food and drink, such as bacterial heterogeneity, typhoid fever, intestinal hemorrhagic E. coli or norovirus infectious disease,

 

- Japanese encephalitis patients with a increase of mosquitos and malaria for those in the northern Gyeonggi area.

 

○ To prevent the major infectious diseases that occur in the rainy season, KCDC stressed that

 

▴Food and drink should be thoroughly heated before consumption

▴Cooked food should not be kept for long

▴Individual hygiene such as handwashing is very important

 

	Healthcare Guidelines for the Rainy Season
• It is important to wash your hands regularly as handwashing can prevent various waterborne infectious diseases and eye diseases   • Cooking procedure is very important – food and drink should be thoroughly heated before consumption.    - Cooked food should not be kept for long. People who have cuts in their hand or who suffer from diarrhea should not cook.   • In order to prevent mosquito-borne infectious diseases, be careful not to get bitten by mosquitoes. Make sure that there is no standing water around your house.    - Refrain from going outside from evening to dawn, when mosquitoes are active.   • When showing symptoms of fever, diarrhea, skin swelling, you are strongly recommended to see a doctor.

 

[ Regional distribution and epidemiological links of the confirmed cases ]
Region	Confirmed cases									Other major clusters
	Total	Imported cases	Clusters					Other*	New cases
			Sub- total	Shin- cheonji	Other local clusters	Contacts of confirmed cases	Linked to imported cases
Seoul	1,436	320	983	8	850	56	69	133	7	Nightclubs (139), Richway (121), Guro-gu call center (99), Yangcheon-gu sport facility (44), Seongsim Day Care Center (43), Manmin Central Church (41), SMR newly planted churches group (37), Dong-an Church-PC Cafe (28), Coupang (24), Wangsung Church (30), Gangnam Yeoksam-dong gathering (13), Daejeon door-to-door sales (8), Uijeongbu Apartment (8), Gangnam-gu financial institution (8), Lotte Midopa Gwanghwamun Building (3), Gwanak-gu office (2) etc.
Busan	156	37	89	12	58	18	1	30	0	Onchun Church (39), Suyeong-gu Kindergarten (5), Nightclubs (4), etc.
Daegu	6,927	47	6,131	4,511	699	917	4	749	0	Second Mi-Ju Hospital (196), Hansarang Convalescent Hospital (124), Daesil Convalescent Hospital (101), Fatima Hospital (39), Daegu Acting Academy (11), Nightclubs (2), etc.
Incheon	363	70	282	2	262	10	8	11	0	Coupang (61), SMR newly planted churches group (57), Nightclubs (54), Richway (24), Guro-gu call center (19), Gyeyang-gu real estate agency family (12), SMR door-to-door sales gathering (6), Car enthusiast group (4) etc.
Gwangju	169	21	144	9	126	3	6	4	1	Gwangju door-to-door sales (119)
Daejeon	160	17	120	2	95	23	0	23	1	Door-to-door sales in Daejeon (56), The Joeun Clinic (16), etc.
Ulsan	55	22	26	16	4	3	3	7	0
Sejong	50	5	44	1	40	3	0	1	0	Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (31), gym facilities (8)
Gyeonggi	1,378	318	961	29	801	67	64	99	9	Grace River Church (67), Coupang (67), Nightclubs (59), Richway (58), Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital (50), Guro-gu call center-Bucheon SaengMyeongSu Church (50), Yangcheon-gu sport facility (28). SMR Newly planted churches group (25), Lord Glory Church (25), Anyang-Gunpo pastors group (22), Uijeongbu Apartment (21), SMR door-to-door sales (19), Lotte Confectionery logistics center (15), Wangsung Church (9), Seongnam neighbors gathering (7), Gwangmyeong Soo Clinic Center (3), Gwanak-gu office (2) etc.
Gangwon	69	19	43	17	26	0	0	7	0	Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital (10), Apartments in Wonju (4), Richway (4), Geumcheon-gu rice milling machine manufacturer (4), etc.
Chung- buk	70	14	45	6	29	8	2	11	1	Goesan-gun Jangyeon-myeon (11), Nightclubs (9), Guro-gu call center (2), etc.
Chung- nam	185	26	147	0	142	4	1	12	0	Gym facilities in Cheonan (103), Daejeon door-to-door sales (15), Richway (3), etc.
Jeonbuk	38	20	13	1	12	0	0	5	2	Daejeon door-to-door sales (3), Nightclubs (2)
Jeonnam	32	16	13	1	9	2	1	3	0	Gwangju door-to-door sales (4), Gwangju Gosi Hagwon (2), etc.
Gyeong- buk	1,393	24	1,236	566	478	192	0	133	0	Cheongdo Daenam Hospital (119), Bonghwa Pureun Nursing Home (68), Gyeongsan Seo Convalescent Hospital (66), pilgrimage to Israel (41), Yecheon-gun (40), Gumi Elim Church (10), etc.
Gyeong- nam	148	38	90	32	50	6	2	20	0	Geochang Church (10), Wings Tower (9), Geochang Woongyang-myeon (8), Nightclubs (2), etc.
Jeju	20	14	2	0	1	0	1	4	0
Ports of Entry	863	863	0	0	0	0	0	0	12
Total	13,512	1,891	10,369	5,213	3,682	1,312	162	1,252	33
	(%)	(14.0)	(76.7)	(38.6)	(27.2)	(9.7)	(1.2)	(9.3)
* Not classified into a cluster or under investigation ※ The interim classification is based on the reporting location, which may change depending on further epidemiological investigation.

[Figure 1: Daily new confirmed cases by chain of transmission]

TOTAL

Seoul City

Incheon City

Gyeonggi Province

Daejeon City

Gwangju City

[ Age distribution of severe cases ]

	7.1	7.2	7.3	7.4	7.5	7.6	7.7	7.8	7.9	7.10	7.11	7.12	7.13	7.14
Total	33	34	34	30	32	32	36	31	26	22	20	19	20	17
Severe	13	16	13	11	11	11	12	9	7	8	7	8	8	4
Very severe	20	18	21	19	21	21	24	22	19	14	13	11	12	13

	Total	Severe	(	%	)	Very severe	(	%	)
Total	17	4	(	100.0	)	13	(	100.0	)
80 and above	2	0	(	0.0	)	2	(	15.4	)
70-79	8	1	(	25.0	)	7	(	53.8	)
60-69	2	1	(	25.0	)	1	(	7.7	)
50-59	5	2	(	50.0	)	3	(	23.1	)
40-49	0	0	(	0.0	)	0	(	0.0	)
30-39	0	0	(	0.0	)	0	(	0.0	)
20-29	0	0	(	0.0	)	0	(	0.0	)
10-19	0	0	(	0.0	)	0	(	0.0	)
0-9	0	0	(	0.0	)	0	(	0.0	)

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