The First Domestic Secondary Infection Case, Contact with Patient 3 at a Gangnam Restaurant

On the 30th, as the threat of the novel coronavirus continues, customers are purchasing masks and hygiene products at a large supermarket in Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The first secondary infection in the country was confirmed to have occurred at a restaurant in Gangnam, Seoul. This location was added after the third patient’s symptom onset time was moved forward by six hours.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced on the 30th that the sixth patient was a close contact who had a meal with the third patient on the 22nd at Hanilgwan located on Apgujeong-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The location has already undergone disinfection measures.

Domestic health authorities will provide additional information about the sixth patient’s movement through further epidemiological investigations.

Hanilgwan was added as a visited place after the third patient’s symptom onset time was moved forward by six hours.

During an in-depth epidemiological investigation of the third patient, domestic health authorities asked, “When did your respiratory symptoms start?” The patient responded, “It seems it was at lunchtime, not in the evening.” Accordingly, the symptom onset time was changed and the movement path was reassessed.

As a result, the third confirmed patient’s symptom onset time was changed from 7 p.m. on the 22nd to 1 p.m. on the same day. The number of contacts also increased from 74 to 95 accordingly.