Response System for and Epidemiological Features of COVID-19 in Gyeongsangnam-do Province in South Korea

Wi, Yu Mi; Lim, Su Jin; Kim, Si-Ho; Lim, Seungjin; Lee, Su Jin; Ryu, Byung-Han; Hong, Sun In; Cho, Oh-Hyun; Moon, Kyunglan; Hong, Kyung-Wook; Kim, Sunjoo; Bae, In-Gyu

BACKGROUND: The South Korean government has been combating COVID-19 outbreak using public information and extensive viral screening. We described the application of the Korean response system in one province and outlined the epidemiological features of COVID-19 in the cohort. METHODS: A Rapid Response Team tracked the patients’ activities and identified close contacts. A Patient Management Team made decisions regarding the severity of illness, hospital allocation depending on severity, and time of discharge. A national medical center with 155 beds and 4 university-affiliated hospitals with 48 negative-pressure isolation rooms were dedicated for COVID-19 patients. RESULTS: As of April 15, 17 400 residents were tested, of whom 111 were confirmed positive cases. Of the 111 patients, 78 were cured and discharged, 2 recovered after mechanical ventilation, and none died. One healthcare worker at the national center tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. All 412 staff members at the center were tested, but there were no additional infections. Cough (30.0 %) was the most common initial symptom, whereas anosmia and ageusia were the first symptoms in 14.7% and 15.7% of the patients, respectively. Overall, 25 patients (22.5%) reported having no symptoms at admission and 7 (6.3%) remained asymptomatic at discharge. CONCLUSIONS: A response system that enabled the early detection of COVID-19 cases, including asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic cases, and timely quarantine of these patients and their contacts, along with efficient allocation of medical resources, was the key to curbing the COVID-19 outbreak in Gyeongsangnam-do Province.