□ The current state* of major local clusters as of today (as of 12:00, 16 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, 2 additional cases (visitors) were confirmed. In total, 11* cases have been confirmed.

* Seoul = 6 cases, Gyeonggi = 3 cases, Jeonbuk = 2 cases

○ Related to the Uijeongbu cluster (formerly referred to as Uijeongbu apartment cases) in Uijeongbu City, Gyeonggi Province, 1 additional case (fitness center confirmed case’s acquaintance’s family member) was confirmed. In total, 32* cases have been confirmed.

* Uijeongbu apartment = 9 cases, fitness facility = 2 cases, contacts outside the fitness facility = 21

○ Related to the Siheung Seoul Daehyo Nursing Hospital in Siheung City, Gyeonggi Province, inpatients and hospital staff are being tested* after 1 inpatient was confirmed on 15 July.

* 115 out of 182 possible contacts tested: 2 positive, 113 negative, testing underway for others

- 1 inpatient in the same sickroom and 1 inpatient in the adjacent sickroom were additionally confirmed. In total, 3 cases have been confirmed.

○ Related to the family in Seo-gu, Daejeon City, 1* additional case was confirmed after the index case was confirmed on 6 July. In total, 7 cases have been confirmed.

* index case = 1 case, family members of the index case = 2, contacts from visited clinic = 3, acquaintance = 1

○ Related to the door-to-door sales group in Gwangju City, 3 additional cases were confirmed. The new cases are related to the Gwangju Gosi Hagwon (1) and the badminton club (2). In total, 144* cases have been confirmed.

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

□ As of 0:00, 16 July, there were 47 imported cases, of which, 20 were confirmed at the point of entry, and 27 were confirmed in the community while in mandatory self-quarantine after arrival.

○ The (presumed) location of infection acquisition of the 47 new imported cases are: Americas (12), and Asia excluding China (35) (Iraq 20; Uzbekistan 7; Philippines 4; Kazakhstan 3; Egypt 1).

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

○ The Central Disease Control Headquarters shared about the Special Entry Procedure and diagnostic tests on 15 July regarding a Russian vessel (Regul: deep-sea fishing boat) that entered Busan Harbor on 26 June. Of the 7 sailors who wished to disembark, 3 cases were confirmed positive.

- Diagnostic testing and contact tracing are underway regarding 22 sailors who did not disembark.

- The Central Disease Control Headquarters plans to require all sailors to be tested during the on-board quarantine inspection procedures for vessels entering Korea after having docked in a Russian port and requiring extensive contact with ship-related workers in Korea.

* Vessels that require little contact between sailors and Korean ship-related workers will be subject to diagnostic tests only for sailors who show symptoms, as before.

□ In response to the recent increase of imported cases*, the Central Disease Control Headquarters revealed that it will continue to formulate practical response plans to prevent importation of cases from abroad.

* Confirmed cases categorized by routes of transmission for the last 2 weeks (708 cases from 0:00 3 July ~ 0:00 16 July): Imported cases 357 (50.4%), local clusters 215 (30.4%), under investigation 62 (8.8%), etc.

○ The following measures are applied to travelers from countries designated as high-risk countries requiring strengthened infectious disease prevention and control measures based on COVID-19 infection risk assessment:

▴ Limiting visa issuance and flights

▴ Having regular flights fly under 60% seat capacity, pausing operation of irregular flights

▴ Requiring all foreign nationals to be in possession of proof of negative PCR test (that was issued within 48 hours prior to the time of departure), which must be submitted upon entry into Korea

- In response to the increase of imported cases, 2 additional countries will be designated as high risk countries that require strengthened infectious disease prevention and control starting 20 July, along with the original 4 countries that had been designated as such.

○ Starting 24 July, the entry and screening process for foreign nationals entering Korea for sailor turnaround will be strengthened as well.

- Visa-free entry of foreign nationals for sailor turnaround will be temporarily paused. Foreign sailors must be issued visas to enter Korea for crew turnaround, and they will be also required to show/submit a negative PCR test result (issued within 48 hours prior to departure) during ticketing and entry into Korea.

* The above measures will apply to all countries except the 21 countries that have taken part in visa waiver or visa-free agreement with the Republic of Korea. Practically applies to almost all sailors entering Korea for sailor turnaround.

○ In addition to closely monitoring the local and overseas COVID-19 situation, risk assessment will be conducted on a regular basis.

- Timely measures, such as screening and quarantine, will be taken to prevent the importation of cases.

□ The Central Disease Control Headquarters asked the public to actively use the Safety Sinmungo Report program run by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety that allows individuals to report online any risk factors related to COVID-19.

○ 915* reports have been submitted through the Safety Report from 1 July to 15 July. Guideline infraction reports, accounting for 505 (55.2%) of the reports, was the most common.

- Incidents reported include:

▴ Not following social distancing guidelines at a guest house, having long conversations without wearing a mask

▴ Massage practice in a closed classroom in close proximity at a massage training center

○ By continuing the Safety Sinmungo program, the KCDC hopes that the public is reminded of the importance of following the COVID-19 prevention guidelines, while allowing focused management of frequently reported areas and facilities to establish a preventive system in the response against COVID-19.

- As consistent small-scale local community transmissions are occurring due to door-to-door sales, the public should refrain from related events.

- When partaking in such an event, wear a mask and follow the COVID-19 prevention guidelines. Citizens are also asked to actively report COVID-19 risk factors that they notice to the Safety Sinmungo.

* The Safety Sinmungo app (Android, iOS) and the program’s website (www.safetyreport.go.kr) allows immediate report of COVID-19-related infractions/risk factors. The result of your report can be easily checked via mobile text message and KakaoTalk messenger application.

□ KCDC stated that 57 severe patients at 25 hospitals have requested and received remdesivir, which was imported under special import for emergency use for COVID-19 treatment.

□ KCDC revealed that 950 fully recovered patients (including 560 additional participants) have signed up to donate their plasma for the development of COVID-19 plasma therapy. Plasma collection has been completed for 444 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.

○ Among the participants, 500 confirmed cases in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk areas have been asked to donate plasma between 13 July to 17 July, of which the plasma collection of 230 participants has been completed.

○ KCDC again 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

□ The Central Disease Control Headquarters looked at the major symptoms of COVID-19 confirmed patients, based on the basic clinical information analysis reported on 8 July, and advised caution.

○ Among the 8,976 confirmed cases that were released from isolation or passed away up to 30 April: inpatients that showed more than 1 major COVID-19 related symptoms accounted for 73.3%, and cases that entered residential treatment centers accounted for 35.2%.

* fever, cough, sputum, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny nose, muscle aches, fatigue/ boredom, headache, vomiting/nausea, diarrhea

- During confirmed inpatient treatment, the most common major symptoms were: cough (41.7%), sputum (28.9%), fever (20.1%), headache (17.2%), but also included various other symptoms such as: muscle aches (16.8%), sore throat (15.7%), diarrhea (9.2%).

<Major Symptoms of Confirmed Inpatients and Residential Treatment Center Patients>

○ As a result, even if you have mild symptoms including fever, respiratory symptoms, headaches, muscle aches, sore throat, refrain from outdoor activities and stay at home.

- Call the hotline (1339, local area code + 120) or your local public health center and get tested. In addition, medical facilities should actively test patients who show symptoms of COVID-19.

- People working in publicly used facilities such as medical, educational, and religious facilities are especially at risk of infection from multiple contacts, and are advised to get a diagnostic test.

TOTAL

Gyeonggi Province