Authorities: "Cannot Determine Global COVID-19 Peak... International Crisis Situation" (Update)

COVID-19 Central Disease Control Headquarters Regular Briefing
Kwon Jun-wook "COVID-19, Control and Management Are Not Easy"

Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] Regarding the resurgence of COVID-19 cases in major countries worldwide, including the United States and Japan, our quarantine authorities stated, "We realize that controlling and managing COVID-19 is by no means easy." They emphasized that the only option is to adhere to traditional quarantine measures such as maintaining social distancing and practicing good personal hygiene.

At a briefing on the 14th, Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said, "All continents worldwide are maintaining an upward trend, with new cases increasing in the Americas and Asia in that order," adding, "The number of countries with a cumulative incidence of over 120 cases per 100,000 population over two weeks has risen to 11." He further stated, "It is an international crisis situation where control is difficult to the extent that we do not even know where the global peak of the COVID-19 pandemic is," and "The expression 'ending the pandemic' is just a hope; we must recognize again that the only way to suppress and manage the scale of the outbreak is through social distancing, mask-wearing, and personal hygiene."

As the upward trend intensifies overseas and the number of incoming cases increases domestically, the quarantine authorities are judging the situation to be challenging. As of 0:00 this morning, out of 33 new confirmed cases, more than half?19 cases?are estimated to have been imported from abroad. By region, Kazakhstan accounts for the highest number with 5 cases, followed by the United States with 3, and South Africa, Ethiopia, and Uzbekistan with 2 cases each. Among them, 9 are Korean nationals and 10 are foreigners.

Separately, it was confirmed that one Russian national crew member tested positive during quarantine procedures when disembarking from a ship docked at Busan Port. The remaining 21 crew members who disembarked together tested negative, and diagnostic tests are being conducted on the 22 crew members still on board.

Officials are guiding international arrivals at Incheon International Airport Terminal 1. <이미지:Yonhap News>

Imported Cases: Increasing Proportion of Foreigners Among Overseas Koreans and Korean Students Abroad
Small-scale Cluster Infections Continue in Areas like Gangnam-gu

According to the quarantine authorities, during the initial weeks 12 to 16 when imported cases increased, most were returning overseas Koreans or Korean students. From week 24 onwards, the proportion of foreigners surpassed that of Koreans, and from weeks 25 to 28, both the number of imported confirmed cases and the proportion of foreigners have been rising. This is why the government is focusing on quarantine and management of incoming travelers. Deputy Director Kwon stated, "We plan to reduce irregular flights from countries where the risk is judged to be continuously increasing by monitoring the number of imported cases in real time."

Small-scale cluster infections continue sporadically within the country as well. In Gwanak-gu, Seoul, after a visitor to an office was confirmed positive on the 12th, an additional 7 cases were confirmed by noon today, bringing the total to 8. In Gangnam-gu, related to the V Building, after the first case was identified earlier this month, 7 more cases were confirmed, totaling 8. The cluster infection related to a mobile communications employee in Gangnam-gu has also increased to 5, including colleagues and family members.

In Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, one more family member was confirmed positive in a family cluster infection case in Yeongtong-gu. In Gwangju, one more case was confirmed in a door-to-door sales-related cluster, increasing the total to 141.

Meanwhile, the antiviral treatment remdesivir, specially imported as a COVID-19 therapeutic, was requested by 49 patients across 24 hospitals and has been fully supplied. As of today, 390 people have expressed willingness to donate plasma for the development of plasma therapy, with 182 having completed plasma collection. The quarantine authorities have warned that with the rainy season approaching and flood damage increasing, various infectious diseases such as waterborne diseases, mosquito-borne diseases, and skin diseases may increase, urging caution.