Why Did Japan Inform Only China... Late Response to the 12th COVID-19 Patient

Japanese Government Notifies Only China of 12th Confirmed Case, Fails to Inform South Korea of Entry
Despite Frequent Korea-China-Japan Exchanges, Infectious Disease Hotline Between Health Authorities Proves Ineffective
KCDC Calls for Contact System Change to Notify Both Nationality and Departure Country

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] There are concerns about problems in the quarantine system for the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) due to the lack of information sharing among the quarantine authorities of South Korea, China, and Japan. This issue arose after it was confirmed that a Chinese national who entered South Korea after contact with a confirmed patient in Japan had been outside the surveillance target. Considering that the transmission route of the novel coronavirus has extended beyond specific regions such as Wuhan City and Hubei Province in China, and that there has been significant human traffic among South Korea, China, and Japan historically, it is expected that criticism for a complacent response will be difficult to avoid.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 2nd, the 12th confirmed novel coronavirus patient in South Korea, a Chinese national, entered Gimpo Airport from Osaka, Japan, after contact with a patient in Japan. The patient took Jeju Air flight 7C 1381. The Japanese government was aware that the 12th confirmed patient had contact with a novel coronavirus patient but only notified China and did not inform the South Korean government.

Jung Eun-kyung, Director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stated, "This patient is a Chinese national, and Japan notified the Chinese government of the contact list with the confirmed patient," adding, "However, they did not notify our government in advance." She continued, "After receiving the patient report, we confirmed with Japan that the contact was accurate and took measures. To share information more precisely between countries, it seems necessary to cooperate internationally by checking not only nationality but also the departure country to double-check."

Director Jung also conveyed that the exact way this patient was infected in Japan has not yet been specifically identified. In Japan, on the 28th of last month, a bus driver who operated a bus carrying travelers from Wuhan, China, was confirmed positive, and on the 29th, a female guide in her 40s who was on the same bus was also confirmed positive.

South Korea, China, and Japan are geographically close and have frequent human exchanges, and according to the South Korean government, they usually communicate through various channels, including establishing an infectious disease hotline among health authorities. However, this incident revealed that communication was not smooth, indicating the need for supplementary measures. The fact that a person who had contact with a patient entered the country was not even identified. The 12th patient was recommended to get tested by a confirmed patient in Japan, and until the patient visited a hospital after entering South Korea and explained their condition, our authorities were unaware of the patient's existence.

Meanwhile, the 12th confirmed patient traveled around Seoul, Bucheon, Gangneung, and other areas for 11 days from the day after entering Gimpo Airport until being quarantined on the 1st. Ultimately, after entering the country, the patient had contact with 138 people, and the wife (Chinese national, 40 years old, the 14th patient) was confirmed positive. This is the second case of a couple both being confirmed positive, and their daughter is currently under self-quarantine and being tested despite showing no symptoms yet.

Director Jung said, "We are reviewing and negotiating with the relevant countries to change the communication system so that notifications can be made simultaneously not only by nationality but also by the country of departure," adding, "This is not only a problem for our country but also for China, Japan, and other countries. We believe that if contact notifications are made under the same principle, urgent measures will be possible."