COVID-19 in South Korea

Postgrad Med J. 2020 Jul;96(1137):399-402. doi: 10.1136/postgradmedj-2020-137738. Epub 2020 May 4.

Abstract

A novel coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome-CoV-2) that initially originated from Wuhan, China, in December 2019 has already caused a pandemic. While this novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) frequently induces mild diseases, it has also generated severe diseases among certain populations, including older-aged individuals with underlying diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. As of 31 March 2020, a total of 9786 confirmed cases with COVID-19 have been reported in South Korea. South Korea has the highest diagnostic rate for COVID-19, which has been the major contributor in overcoming this outbreak. We are trying to reduce the reproduction number of COVID-19 to less than one and eventually succeed in controlling this outbreak using methods such as contact tracing, quarantine, testing, isolation, social distancing and school closure. This report aimed to describe the current situation of COVID-19 in South Korea and our response to this outbreak.

Keywords: infectious diseases.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Basic Reproduction Number
  • Betacoronavirus / pathogenicity*
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology*
  • COVID-19 / prevention & control
  • COVID-19 / transmission*
  • Communicable Disease Control / organization & administration*
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Coronavirus Infections / prevention & control
  • Coronavirus Infections / transmission*
  • Epidemiological Monitoring
  • Evidence-Based Medicine
  • Human Activities
  • Humans
  • Pandemics / prevention & control*
  • Physical Distancing
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / prevention & control
  • Pneumonia, Viral / transmission*
  • Quarantine / organization & administration*
  • Republic of Korea / epidemiology
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Travel