'Incubation Period Controversy' Patient No. 28, Symptoms Disappear, Isolation Release Imminent (Update)

The 28th domestic COVID-19 confirmed patient is isolated at the Regional Emergency Medical Center of Myongji Hospital in Goyang, Gyeonggi-do.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] The 28th confirmed case of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in South Korea (born in 1989, female of Chinese nationality), who had been at the center of an incubation period controversy, has tested negative twice in diagnostic tests, prompting health authorities to consider lifting her quarantine.

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said at a regular briefing on the 15th, "The 28th patient underwent three tests by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after hospitalization," adding, "The first test on the 12th was inconclusive as it was borderline between negative and positive, but the second and third tests on the 13th and 14th were confirmed negative." The patient was receiving isolated treatment at Myongji Hospital.

COVID-19 patients are released from isolation if 48 hours have passed since symptoms disappeared and two consecutive real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests conducted 24 hours apart show negative results. This constitutes a recovery judgment for COVID-19. Additionally, the attending medical staff make the final decision on discharge considering the patient's underlying conditions and aftereffects.

Head Jung said, "The 28th patient currently has no symptoms and no signs of pneumonia," and added, "The schedule for lifting isolation and discharge will be decided after discussion with the Central Clinical Task Force."

The 28th patient is an acquaintance of the 3rd patient (54-year-old male, Korean nationality), who was confirmed positive on the 26th of last month. They entered the country together from Wuhan, China, on the 20th of last month. Classified as a close contact of the 3rd patient, she had been under self-quarantine since the 26th of last month but was confirmed positive on the 10th of this month.

It took 17 days from the last contact with the 3rd patient on the 25th of last month to the confirmation of infection. Since this exceeded the known maximum incubation period of 14 days for COVID-19, and she was classified as a patient, controversy arose domestically about whether the quarantine period for this infectious disease should be extended beyond 14 days.

Meanwhile, the 7th patient (born in 1991, Korean nationality) and the 22nd patient (born in 1973, Korean nationality) among the existing confirmed cases were additionally released from isolation today. Head Jung said, "The 7th patient is scheduled to be discharged today, and the 22nd patient is in discussions with the hospital about discharge after some time." If these two patients are discharged, the total number of discharged patients among the 28 confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Korea will increase to nine.

The 7th patient returned from Wuhan, China, on the 23rd of last month, was confirmed positive on the 30th of last month, and has been receiving isolated treatment at Seoul Medical Center. The 22nd patient was a secondary infection case, a family member of the 16th patient (born in 1977, Korean nationality), who was confirmed positive after traveling to Thailand and other countries. The 22nd patient was confirmed positive on the 6th and transferred to Chosun University Hospital.