PHWR Public Health Weekly Report

Vol.14 No.25, June 17, 2021 Article TypeEpidemiology and SurveillanceNoncommunicable Disease Statistics

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2021-06-17

  0 281 117

  Reinfection of COVID-19 in the Republic of Korea

  Park Ae Kyung, Kim Il-Hwan, Rhee JeeEun, Kim Eun-Jin, SeongJin Wang, Lee Sang-Eun, Park YoungJoon, Park Gemma, Kim Jung Yeon, Gwack Jin

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(25): 1770-1775

  Abstract

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  The aim of this study was to analyze the epidemiology and characteristics of presumed Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) reinfection cases. Since the first case of reinfection of COVID-19 in the Republic of Korea in April 2020 was identified, an additional four cases have been classified as reinfection cases. To conduct analysis, we performed whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of the viral RNA at the initial infection and at the reinfection of four presumed reinfection cases. The analysis of genome sequences indicated that there were two cases which showed distinct SARS-CoV-2 strain in reinfection when compared to that of the initial infection. Of the remaining two cases, the viral RNA of the initial infection was unobtainable for one case and a complete genome sequence of reinfection due to the high Ct value was unobtainable for the remaining case. Therefore, considering the epidemiological results, this study concluded that the two cases were reinfection cases. In an environment where concerns about reinfection are growing due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the emergence of variants, it is necessary to analyze cases through continuous monitoring.

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2021-06-17

  0 436 73

  Report on responding with reinforced quarantine at the Incheon Airport National Quarantine Station

  Moon Ji Hye, Park Ji Yun, Heo Ji Won, Shin Yun Jeong, Park Hyun Ju, Lee Seung Eun, Choi In Soo, Choi Chong Hee

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(25): 1776-1784

  

  

  Abstract

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  The Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020, by the World Health Organization (WHO). Around the world, the pandemic impacted travel both domestically and internationally. At the time of writing (June 2021), the criteria in the Republic of Korea for classifying cases of symptoms during airport quarantine have remained unchanged over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Incheon Airport National Quarantine Station proactively established phased plans for quarantine by monitoring and analyzing the number of confirmed cases overseas by country, along with the inflow of confirmed cases into the country. The prompt sharing of information on foreign variants of the virus and systematic responses with screening made it possible to detect the first cases of variants originating from the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Brazil.
  The the number of confirmed cases in India increased sharply in April 2021. Multiple cases were confirmed on a non-scheduled flight which departed from India on April 6, 2021. Results suggested that these cases arose from exposure to, and the resulting infection from, unspecified individuals in India; consequently, reinforced medical triage was commenced starting on April 13, with lower fever thresholds for those entering from India. However, even with reinforced medical triage, most cases from India were observed to be asymptomatic and were later confirmed with in the local community, which led to station-wide testing on all passengers entering from India on April 21. Between April 21 and April 30- when testing and isolation in temporary quarantine facilities were enforced for all persons entering from India—42 positive cases were confirmed at the Incheon Airport National Quarantine Station through station-wide testing, and the later classification of the Indian variant as a global variant of concern by the WHO helped delay the introduction of the Indian variant into the South Korea.

• Noncommunicable Disease Statistics 2021-06-17

  0 384 127

  International comparison of daily smokers, OECD countries, 2018 (or nearest year)

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(25): 1785-1786

  

  

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