Ministry of Health and Welfare

The Korean government takes all-out measures to prevent coronavirus infection within the community

- All inbound travelers from Wuhan over the past 14 days are subject to inspection -

□ The Central Incidence Management System(IMS) of the Ministry of Health and Welfare (headed by Park Neung-hoo) and the Central Emergency Response System of Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC, headed by Jung Eun-kyeong) announced that they will step up the community response system in cooperation with local governments as the infectious disease alert level was raised to "orange", the third level in the four-tier system.

○ The government decided to further expand the coronavirus infection screening clinics run by each local government* to detect and take necessary measures as early as possible for those who enter Korea during the incubation period** and develop symptoms once within the community.

* As many as 288 screening clinics are being operated as of January 28.
** Seven out of 50 cases of the entry of the virus into nations other than China were found to have been screened during quarantine.

○ The government is working to minimize the public's inconvenience by recruiting more staff for the KCDC hotline (1339) and distributing FAQs to local government call centers to reduce wait times for related inquiries.

○ Currently, 161 beds at 29 hospitals have been designated by the government for the hospitalization of confirmed and suspicious cases.

- In preparation for an increase in the number of reported potential cases, the government plans to secure more beds at regional hub hospitals and infectious disease control institutions and designate additional infectious disease control institutions if deemed necessary.

○ Coronavirus testing techniques and data will be provided to private healthcare institutions to enable them to diagnose Novel Coronavirus infections from early February.

□ Full inspections on all travelers who entered Korea from Wuhan within the past 14 days will also be conducted.

○ The number of travelers who have entered Korea from Wuhan so far based on immigration records, etc., stands at 3,023 (1,166 Korean citizens and 1,857 foreigners). Inspections and monitoring of all of these travelers will be conducted in collaboration with local governments and the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service.

- Korean citizens known to have visited Wuhan will be hospitalized at government-designated healthcare institutions, put under isolated treatment, and examined if they are confirmed to show symptoms such as fever or respiratory problems.
- Foreigners should be checked as to whether they will depart Korea within a short period time, and investigations should be conducted in collaboration with the Korean National Police Agency for those permitted to stay for longer periods.

□ The details of the fourth patient's epidemiological investigation were revealed.

○ It was confirmed that the patient came into contact with 172 people, and one of his family members was diagnosed to have related symptoms, isolated, examined, and tested negative.

○ The patient stayed at his home after the symptoms developed and did not go out much except to visit the hospital. The airplane and airport bus he used and the hospital he visited have all undergone environmental disinfection. (Refer to Attachment 2)

□ As of 10:00am, January 28, a total of 116 people have been diagnosed with related symptoms. Four among them were confirmed to have the virus, 15 are still awaiting results, and 97 were found to have tested negative and released from isolation.

□ KCDC has repeatedly highlighted the need to refrain from engaging in outside activities if suspicious symptoms occur within 14 days from entry into Korea from China and, if symptoms occur, to make sure to consult the public health center in the relevant jurisdiction, local call center (area code +120), or KCDC hotline (1339) first and then to visit a healthcare institution.

○ KCDC has emphasized the need for close cooperation with healthcare institutions' infection control measures such as visitor management.

○ Make sure to wear protective gear such as masks when coming into contact with patients with respiratory diseases.
○ Stringently follow the coronavirus infection screening routine for patients with respiratory diseases (interviewing on travel history, utilizing DUR, etc.).
○ Report cases suspected to be Novel Coronavirus infections to the public health center in the relevant jurisdiction.
○ It has also stressed the importance of employee education for the prevention of infection at healthcare institutions and adherence to the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Providers for the Prevention of Novel Coronavirus Infections that requires healthcare staff to verify each patient's overseas travel history and to wear protective gear such as masks when coming into contact with patients suspected to have related symptoms, as well as the operation of screening clinics.