Quickly Trace Contacts and Respond to Group Exposure... "Conduct COVID-19 Investigation Swiftly" (Update)

Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] Jeong Eun-kyung, Director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), emphasized on the 27th that to reduce damage caused by community transmission of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in South Korea, "the epidemiological investigation method should be changed from in-depth investigation to rapid investigation."

Jeong, who leads the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters for COVID-19, said at the regular briefing that afternoon, "We have grasped the characteristics of this disease to some extent."

She explained, "(COVID-19) infects on the first day of onset, and the incubation period is short, about 3 to 4 days," adding, "If we analyze closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage and investigate movement paths for 2 to 3 days, we may miss the timing to take action on the patient's contacts." She further stated, "Once confirmed, we are reorganizing the epidemiological investigation system to quickly identify the closest contacts within a day or two, promptly impose self-quarantine measures, and focus on investigations of group exposure in collective facilities and medical institutions."

Currently, local governments report the situation to the KCDC and then conduct epidemiological investigations and quarantine measures. The government and health authorities are promoting a phased transition to a system where basic epidemiological investigations and quarantine measures are first conducted at the local government level, with the results reported afterward.

Director Jeong said, "To complete epidemiological investigations within a day or two, local governments will be responsible for basic investigations, while group investigations will be supported cooperatively by provincial and central authorities."