Wuhan Pneumonia Patient No. 3 Roamed Neighborhood for Two Days Before Quarantine... "Tracking Movements and Contacts"

Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Partially Discloses Information on Third Confirmed Case in Briefing on the 26th
54-Year-Old Korean Male, Temporarily Returned Home via Cheongdo While Residing in Wuhan
"Engaged in Community Activities for Two Days Prior to Confirmation on the 26th"

On the 24th, medical staff wearing protective suits are caring for confirmed patients of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) in the intensive care unit of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Hubei Province, China.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Daeyeol] The third confirmed case of the novel coronavirus infection, known as 'Wuhan pneumonia,' in South Korea was found to have engaged in external activities in his residential area for about two days before being confirmed positive on the 26th.

Jung Eun-kyung, Director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), stated in a briefing on the 26th, "The third confirmed patient, who arrived at Incheon Airport at 9 p.m. on the 20th, showed no symptoms upon entry and reportedly took antipyretics from the 22nd due to fever, chills, and other flu-like symptoms," adding, "There were community activities on the 23rd and 24th." The KCDC reported that an epidemiological investigation is currently underway regarding the patient's specific movements and close contacts during these two days. The location cannot be disclosed, but it was revealed that the patient resides in the metropolitan area.

The confirmed patient reported coughing and sputum symptoms to the KCDC on the morning of the 25th and was classified as a suspected symptomatic case after a primary investigation by the local health center. On the same day, he was isolated and tested at Myongji Hospital, a nationally designated inpatient treatment facility, and was confirmed positive in the morning. Director Jung said, "Investigators dispatched to trace the patient's movements are conducting an in-depth epidemiological investigation, and since there was some community activity, it is taking time to identify the exact movements."

Close contacts such as family members have been placed under self-quarantine, and routine contacts are under active monitoring, the KCDC reported. Contacts are being classified based on transmission risk factors such as whether the patient wore a mask or coughed. Director Jung added, "I heard that the patient works in an occupation where wearing a mask is customary," and said, "We are verifying the extent to which the patient wore a mask through his statements and objective CCTV footage to classify contacts, but this process is currently taking time."