Lessons from South Korea Regarding the Early Stage of the COVID-19 Outbreak.

Min Cheol Chang,Jong Hyun Baek,Donghwi Park

doi:10.3390/healthcare8030229

Min Cheol Chang, Jong Hyun Baek + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare8030229

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Abstract

South Korea has experienced difficulty in controlling the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) during the early stages of the outbreak. South Korea remains passionately determined to protect Koreans against COVID-19 and through trial and error hopes to improve the strategies used to limit the outbreak. Here, we review how COVID-19 spread and what prevention strategies were implemented during the early stages of the outbreak in South Korea. We investigated online newspapers published in South Korea from 21 January 2020 to 20 March 2020, and reviewed academic medical articles related to COVID-19. Additionally, we acquired data on COVID-19 cases through the official website for COVID-19 in South Korea. To date, numerous measures have been applied by the government and the medical community during the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak including the reporting of methods for diagnostic testing, patient classification, the introduction of drive-through screening centers, COVID-19 preventive measures, implementation of government policies for the shortage of face masks, and entry restrictions. Here, we present data from the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak and measures to prevent its spread in South Korea. We believe that sharing the experience of South Korea during the COVID-19 outbreak can help other countries to implement strategies to prevent its rapid transmission.

Highlights

Beginning in late December 2019, an outbreak of a novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) occurred in Wuhan, China, and the disease subsequently spread to over 100 countries within two months [1].On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a pandemic.Approximately 2% of COVID-19 cases result in death due to massive alveolar damage and progressive respiratory failure [2]
On 21 January 2020, the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in South Korea in a patient with a history of travel to Wuhan
The first 28 confirmed cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV-2 infection had a history of travel to China or contact with confirmed COVID-19 patients

Summary

Introduction

2% of COVID-19 cases result in death due to massive alveolar damage and progressive respiratory failure [2] This fatality rate is low relative to that of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) (10%) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) (34%) coronaviruses, the fatality rate among elderly patients or those with underlying disorders is substantially greater [3]. Because it is extremely contagious, many people are affected by COVID-19, and the infection rate continues to increase sharply [4]. The COVID-19 pandemic poses a threat to the general public health worldwide, causing a global economic and health crisis [6]

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