Suwon Mayor Yeom Tae-young: "I will recommend to the government to disclose movement routes of confirmed cases during asymptomatic periods"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Suwon Mayor Yeom Tae-young stated, "I will recommend to the government that places visited and people contacted by confirmed patients with COVID-19 during their asymptomatic period should be actively managed."

At a situation briefing meeting held at the City Hall Disaster and Safety Situation Room on the 4th, Mayor Yeom said, "The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention disclosed the movement routes of the 15th confirmed patient (Suwon resident) only from two days before symptom onset until the time of confirmation (January 30 - February 1), which is increasing public concerns." He added, "Given the possibility of transmission by asymptomatic individuals, it is desirable to disclose all movement routes of confirmed patients from the time of entry into the country."

He continued, "Basic local governments do not have the authority to disclose confirmed patient routes or to conduct epidemiological investigations," and pointed out, "If basic local governments are not given such authority, the capability to respond to community-spread infectious diseases may be weakened."

The 15th confirmed patient is a 43-year-old Korean male residing in Cheoncheon-dong, Jangan-gu, who returned from Wuhan, China on the 20th of last month on the same flight as the 4th confirmed patient (Pyeongtaek resident). The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classified him as a "close contact" and notified the city on the 29th of last month, and Jangan-gu Health Center managed him as a self-isolation target.

Seven "close contacts," including the confirmed patient's family members, tested "negative" in specimen tests. The seven who tested negative will undergo "self-isolation" for the next two weeks. Jangan-gu Health Center will check their condition periodically.

According to epidemiological investigation results announced by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the 3rd, the 15th confirmed patient self-isolated at home on January 30-31 and visited the Jangan-gu Health Center's screening clinic in his own vehicle at around 2 p.m. on February 1 for testing.

According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the epidemiological investigation period is two days before the date when fever and respiratory symptoms appear. From the 15th confirmed patient's entry date of January 20 to January 29, three days before symptom onset, is not within the investigation period; however, due to the "possibility of asymptomatic transmission," calls are growing to "disclose all movement routes."

Mayor Yeom also stated, "People in close contact with suspected patients undergo primary testing at the metropolitan health and environment research institute and secondary testing at the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but if the number of people who need testing grows to hundreds or thousands, we cannot respond," and emphasized, "Large-scale basic local governments should be given the authority to establish epidemiological investigators."

He continued, "Information about COVID-19 must be disclosed as promptly and transparently as possible," adding, "If information is not disclosed transparently, anxiety will grow, and citizens will lose trust in the government."

Currently, all confirmed patient contacts are placed under "self-isolation" for two weeks, and the relevant health centers monitor contacts at least twice a day. If a contact violates self-isolation, they face a fine of up to 3 million won through criminal charges.