The Republic of Korea has confirmed the first imported case of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) from Wuhan, Hubei Province, China on 20 January 2020.

The case is a Chinese woman in her 30’s residing in Wuhan, China. She developed fever and headache on 18 January 2020. She visited a local hospital in Wuhan and was diagnosed with cold. From our initial investigation, she denied visiting the traditional markets including Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, nor contacting 2019-nCoV confirmed cases or any live animals in Wuhan.

The case was detected by a thermal scanner during entry screening conducted by at the Incheon International Airport with fever. The in-depth epidemiological investigation and contact tracing are underway. The case was transferred to a national designated isolation hospital for test and treatment.

Samples have been tested positive with pan-coronavirus conventional RT PCR and gene sequencing

Korean government has scaled up alert level from Blue (Level 1) to Yellow (Level 2 out of 4-level national crisis management system). The Korean health authority has strengthened surveillance for pneumonia cases in health facilities nationwide since 3 January 2020. Quarantine and screening measures have been enhanced for travelers from Wuhan at the point of entries since 3 January 2020. Public risk communication has been enhanced.