The third confirmed case of novel coronavirus infection is an 'asymptomatic entrant'
Entered on the 20th → First symptoms on the 22nd → Quarantined on the 25th
Concerns over community infection spread
[Asia Economy Reporter Shim Nayoung] The third confirmed case of the novel coronavirus infection has occurred in South Korea.
On the 26th, the Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that a 54-year-old Korean male residing in Wuhan, China, who temporarily returned on the 20th, was confirmed as a positive case.
The patient reported to the Disease Control Headquarters call center 1339 on the 25th and has been quarantined and is receiving treatment at Myongji Hospital in Gyeonggi Province, a nationally designated inpatient treatment facility, since that day.
The third patient was an 'asymptomatic entrant' with no symptoms at the time of entry. On the day of return, the 20th, he showed no symptoms such as fever, cough, or muscle pain and was not detected by the quarantine system.
The first and second patients, who were confirmed earlier, were classified as 'symptomatic persons under investigation' and 'active monitoring subjects' respectively at the time of entry through the quarantine system. Both had mild symptoms upon arrival at the airport.
Accordingly, the first patient was immediately quarantined at a nationally designated inpatient treatment facility from the airport. The second patient was instructed to wear a mask and refrain from outside activities and stayed only at home.
The third patient passed through the quarantine system without any symptoms at the time of entry. On the third day after entry, the 22nd, he experienced feverishness, chills, and body aches and took antipyretics, which improved his symptoms. However, on the 25th, four days after symptoms first appeared, intermittent coughing and sputum symptoms developed, leading him to report to health authorities and be classified as a 'symptomatic person under investigation.'
He stayed in the community for four days from the onset of symptoms until being quarantined at the nationally designated inpatient treatment facility. This period raises concerns about the spread of infection among contacts.
Generally, infectious diseases become transmissible when symptoms such as coughing appear. Due to the characteristics of the coronavirus, Wuhan pneumonia is believed to primarily spread through 'droplet' transmission.
Health authorities are expected to focus on this period to identify and actively monitor people who had contact with the patient. The number of people under monitoring is expected to increase compared to the first and second patients.
The first patient, who was quarantined immediately at the airport, had 44 contacts, and the second patient, who traveled by taxi from the airport and stayed only at home, had 67 contacts. So far, no unusual symptoms have been reported among contacts of the first and second confirmed patients.
However, depending on how the third patient lived during the six days from his return until his voluntary report to health authorities on the 25th, the number of contacts and the scope of active monitoring subjects are expected to vary significantly.
The Disease Control Headquarters stated, "An in-depth epidemiological investigation is currently underway," and added, "We will share additional information as soon as the investigation results are available, around 5 p.m. today (the 25th)."
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