#15,033
Although the majority of of South Korea's COVDID-19 cases are located in and around Daegu - and linked to the Shincheon Daegu Church - Gyeongsan has reported a sharp rise in cases in recent days, and today has been designated as an infectious disease special management area.
South Korea's hospitals are under increasing pressure, and according to a Korea Herald report today, will relax their criteria for releasing `improved' patients (see Why only 1.5% of virus patients made recovery in S. Korea) to home isolation or non-hospital recovery centers.While the volume of cases is quite high in South Korea, so far, the mortality rate has been relatively low - at least compared to what we've seen reported in many other parts of the world. Whether this has to do with a `strain difference' between localities, a difference in the depth of testing and reporting on mild cases, or a difference in healthcare delivery - is impossible to say with any certainty.
People crave `certainty' during a crisis and tend to latch onto the latest `facts' as if they were writ in stone - but COVID-19 is very new - and our understanding of it continues to evolve.What we think we know about this epidemic today could need serious revision a month from now. And so could our tactics. The virus could change over time, or - perhaps with better data - just our understanding of it.
Either way, we need to accept we are in uncharted territory, and that surprises are inevitable.
South Korea's daily update adds 438 new cass, and 3 additional deaths.
In Daegu, 69.6% (3,013 people) of Shincheon Jidae Church-related incidents occurred, and during the contact survey of Shincheon jido believers, additional occurrences were confirmed by group facilities and medical institutions.
○ In North Gyeongsang Province, the number of cases has been confirmed, including group nursing homes, with 44 newly confirmed patients from Blue Sanatorium (56 residents, 60 workers) in Bonghwa-gun. In addition, new patients showed an increasing trend in the Gyeongsan area **, which was designated as an infectious disease special management area.
* 26 out of 36 confirmed patients and 10 workers
** 347 persons in Gyeongsan as of 11:00 am on November 3.5 (including 59 new examiners)
□ The National Defense Agency asked for compliance with the rules of personal hygiene and the practice of social distancing.
○ It is important to keep the basic precautions such as washing your hands with soap under running water and covering your mouth and nose with clothing sleeves.
○ Asked me to refrain from all possible meetings and outings. Avoid contact with people with fever or respiratory symptoms, especially visiting places where many people gather in closed spaces and religious events.
-In addition, each institution or company recommended that they actively work online or at home.
-When staying in the house, I asked them to give ① enough rest, ② proper exercise ③ balanced diet, ④ hygiene rules, and ⑤ regular ventilation.
○ People who have a fever or respiratory symptoms should refrain from going to school without going to school or going to work.
