□ The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency Central Disease Control Headquarters (Commissioner: Jeong Eun Kyung) announced that as of 0:00 hours Jan. 16th, there are 547 new local transmission cases and 33 new imported cases, and cumulatively 71,820 cases (5,902 imported cases) in the Republic Korea. 

○ There were 54,196 suspected case tests, 33,610 Seoul metropolitan region temporary screening centers tests (84 ed cases). Cumulatively 87,806 tests have been conducted, and 580 new cases were ed.  

* Anonymous new ed cases have been reflected in the data through cross checking personal information and through epidemiological investigations. 

○ There are 1,018 newly discharged persons from isolation and cumulatively, 57,554 persons (80.14%) have been discharged from isolation. Currently there are 13,030 persons in isolation. There are 360 severe/critical cases, and 19 deceased. Cumulatively, there have been 1,236 deaths (case fatality rate: 1.72%).

□ Recent major local clusters as of 0:00, Jan. 16th are as follows.

※ Data as of 0:00 hours. The specific figures may differ from the daily reported statistics or figures disclosed by local municipalities due to factors such as report timing and differences in the time period considered. Figures subject to change upon new findings from investigation  

○ There are 547 new local cases as of 0:00, Jan. 16th (recent weekly average is 516.1). There are 341 new cases in the Seoul metropolitan region (62.3%), and 206 new cases outside the Seoul metropolitan region (37.7%).

○ The Seoul metropolitan region

- (Seoul Songpa Ward related cases) Contact tracing of isolated persons ed 3* additional new cases, bringing the current total ed cases to 1,221. 

- (Seoul Seodaemun-gu religious facilities related cases) After the first case was ed on Jan. 5th, 15 new cases were ed through contact tracing, bringing the current total ed cases to 16*.

* (Details) Religious facility member (8 cases, included in data), Family member (7 cases), Acquaintances (1 case)

- (Seoul Dongdaemun-gu sauna facility related cases) After the first case was ed on Jan. 5th, 11 new cases were ed through contact tracing, bringing the current total ed cases to 12*.

* (Details) Employee (1 case), Facility user (11 cases, included in data)

- (Seoul Gangdong-gu convalescent hospital related cases) After the first case was ed on Jan. 6th, 12 new cases were ed through contact tracing, bringing the current total ed cases to 13*.

* (Details) Patient (6 cases, included in data), Employees (6 cases), Family member (4 cases)

- (Seoul Yongsan-gu USFK base related cases) After the first case was ed on Jan. 11th, 17 new cases were ed through contact tracing, bringing the current total ed cases to 18*.

* (Details) Service members (15 cases, included in data), Family member (1 case), Acquaintances (1 case), Other (1 case)

- (Gyeonggi Yongin-si Suji-gu church related cases) Two new cases were ed through contact tracing, bringing the current total ed cases to 209. 

- (Gyeonggi Yongin-si nursing facility related cases) Since Jan. 2nd, 10 new cases were ed through contact tracing, bringing the current total ed cases to 20*. 

* (Details) Employees (4 cases, included in data +3), Admitted persons (15 cases (+7)), Family member (1 case)

○ The Chungcheong region

- (Chung-buk Goesan-gun/Eumseong-gun/Jincheon-gun/Gyeonggi Ansung-si hospital related cases) Fifteen new cases were ed through contact tracing, bringing the current total ed cases to 408. 

○ The Honnam region

- (Jeonbuk Sunchang-gun convalescent hospital related cases) Since Jan. 13th, 7 new cases were ed through contact tracing, bringing the current total ed cases to 113. 

- (Jeonnam Suncheon-si church related cases) After the first case was ed on Jan. 2nd, 10 new cases were ed through contact tracing, bringing the current total ed cases to 11*.

* (Details) Church members 6 caes (included in data), Family member 2 cases, Acquaintances 3 cases

- (Jeonnam Yeongam-gun Buddhist temple related cases) After the first case was ed on Jan. 14th, 12 new cases were ed through contact tracing, bringing the current total ed cases to 13*.

* (Details) Temple member 4 cases (included in data), Residents 9 cases

○ The Gyeong-buk region

- (Daegu Dalseo-gu daycare center related cases) Fourteen new cases were ed through contact tracing, bringing the current total ed cases to 22*. 

* (Details) Employees 7 cases, Family member 14 cases (included in data, +13), Acquaintance 1 case (+1) 

- (Gyeong-buk Gumi-si Family2 related cases) After the first case was ed on Jan. 13th, 12 new cases were ed through contact tracing, bringing the current total ed cases to 13*. 

* (Details) Family members 10 cases (included in data), Colleague 2 cases, Colleague family member 1 case

○ The Gyeong-nam region

- (Busan Geumjeong-gu medical facility related cases) After the first case was ed on Jan. 12th, 17 new cases were ed through contact tracing, bringing the current total ed cases to 18*.  

* (Details) Patients 4 cases (included in data), Employees 3 cases (included in data), Family member 7 cases, Other 4 cases

- (Busan Nam-gu shipping labor union related cases) After the first case was ed on Jan. 12th, 11 new cases were ed through contact tracing, bringing the current total ed cases to 12*.  

* (Details) Employees 6 cases (included in data), Family member 6 cases

- (Busan Suyeong-gu church related cases) Six new cases were ed through contact tracing, bringing the current total ed cases to 28*. 

* (Details) Church member 14 cases (+2), Other church member 10 cases (included in data), Other 4 cases (+4)

- (Gyeong-nam Jinju-si prayer center related cases) Ten new cases were ed through contact tracing, bringing the current total ed cases to 95*. 

* (Details) Visitors 77 cases (included in data), Family member 6 cases (+3), Acquaintances 5 cases (+2), Other 7 cases (+5)

□ The Central Disease Control Headquarters released details about the ongoing preemptive tests being conducted in vulnerable facilities that recently experienced infection clusters. 

○ The current testing details of last week (Jan. 1st  ~Jan. 7th, 2021) is as follows.

- Of all relevant institutions, 62.6% (259,640/414,755 persons) persons in 65.93% (8,480/12,862 institutions) institutions were tested. Of these, a current total of 36 new cases were d in 13 institutions*.

* Convalescent hopitals 5, psychiatric hospitals 2, nursing facilities 6

- By institution, 74.3% of convalescent hopitals, 51.0% of nursing centers, 88.4% of psychiatric hospitals, 66.2% of mental health care and rehabilitation facilities, 136.3% of facilities for the elderly, 37.1% of housing facilities for the severly handicapped were tested. 

○ According to disease control authorities, preemptive testing allows early detection of asymptomatic and mild symptom cases. This helps to protect the most vulnerable and to prevent cluster infections among the vulnerable facilities.

- The disease control authorities encouraged preemptive testing and called for the relevant institutions and their employees' active cooperation.

□ The Central Disease Control Headquarters released its operation evaluation and hereafter operation plans of the Seoul metropolitan area's COVID-19 temporary screening centers.

○ Since December 14th last year, 144 temporary screening centers have been installed and put into operation* in Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon in places with high foot traffic.

* Since the extention of social distancing measures (Jan. 4th ~ Jan. 17th), the number of screening centers have been adjusted, accounting for field conditions. (153 screening centers (Dec. 14th, 2020 ~ Jan. 4th, 2021) → 144 screening centers (Jan. 16th, 2021))

** In the 9 non-Seoul metropolitan regions, 7 temporary screening centers have been installed and put into operation by regional initiative (Dec. 23rd, 2020) → 33 screening centers (Jan. 2nd, 2021) → 31 screening centers (Jan. 9th, 2021) → 59 screening centers (Jan. 16th, 2021) 

- For the last month, a total of 1 million 99 thousand test were performed (daily average 34,450 tests) which  esulted in 3,231 ed cases (0.3% positive rate) being discovered early. These cases are being managed and undergoing epidemeological investigation.

○ As a result of operating the Seoul Metropolitan Region Temporary Screening Centers, the following outcomes were obtained: △Convenience and accessibility of tests have been strengthened, △Test numbers have been expanded and contributed to the prevention of widespread local community infection through early ation of cases, and △The spread of temporary screening centers outside of the Seoul metropolitan region.

- We evaluate that the test participation rate was supported by raising accesibility to COVID-19 testing through allowing citizens to be tested near easy-to-access area such as stations and plazas. Further, citizens could get tested regardless of their home address or symptoms, with only their telephone numbers as required information, making the test less burdensome. 

- In addition, the total number of tests performed in the Seoul metropolitan region increased 4.7 times (from 368 thousand tests to 1.722 million tests)여하였다.

* Each temporary screening center (daily average 267 tests) tested on average 4 more tests than public health centers (daily average 62 tests).

- The temporary screening centers contributed to the prevention of widespread local community infection by ing 11% of total Seoul metropolitan region's ed cases (27,911 cases) in 1 month.

* However, 49% of temporary screening centers' ed cases had epidemiological links to ed cases, and 69% showed symptoms

- However, in the case of ed cases through anonymous testing, there is a time lag between ation and the notification and management. Therefore, improvements can be made by directing epidemologically linked cases to public health centers' screening centers.

○ Based on these results, the disease control authorities have decided to extend the operation of the 130 Seoul metropolitan region's temporary screening centers until Feb. 14th, 2021 (Lunar New Year's Holiday special disease prevention period).

- City and provincial municipalities will take the initiative in the decision to consolidate or set up new screening stations, taking into account their epidemiological situation, accessibility and test performances.

- In cases where real name verification may be needed, such as cases with epidemiological links to ed cases, we plan to resolve some of the issues stemming from anonymous testing by separately managing cases that require real name verification from general and non-symptomatic cases on site. 

- A mobile medical examination interview system* will be developed and launched that can be used for both anonymous and real name verified tests.

* Before COVID-19 screening, test seekers will scan a QR code, and fill out the interview questionnaire.

○ We thank the medical staff and administrative support staff for their hard work in the screening centers and temporary screening centers even throughout the cold weather.

- For more effective testing and management of ed cases, we ask the people to visit the screening centers for testing if you show symptoms or if you have an epidemiological link to a ed case, 

- But if you want to be tested despite showing no symptoms, please visit the temporary screening centers for testing.

□ The Central Diseas Control Headquarters and the Ministry of Environment ask that special attention be taken to safely use disinfectants. The use of disinfectants and sterilizers have risen, and their misuse have risen as well. Notable misuse cases include directly spraying them on the human body or spraying the air.

○ Biocidal material are included in disinfectants and sterilizers to remove germs, virus, and the like. They can be toxic to the human body and the environment.

- Therefore, attention to safety while using disinfectants is important during use of disinfectants as an infectious disease preventive measure.

○ First, in choosing disinfectants and sterilizers (for preventive measure and home disinfection), the product should be approved and registered with the Ministry of Environment*. Only the necessary amount must be applied to necessary areas, and users must take note of the application method and precautionary specified on labels.

* Preventive measure disinfectants must have the Minister of Environment's seal of approval, and home disinfectants must be registered with the ministry. The list of approved & registered disinfectants are available at the Choroknuri website (edolife.me.go.kr)'s notice page.

○ Second, protecting the skin, eyes, and respiratory system is important during use of disinfectants and sterilizers. Please wear protective equipment such as gloves and masks during use.  

○ Third, for effective disinfection and safety, we recommend wiping down surface areas that often come into contact with hands.

- Disinfectants and sterilizers use is approved on surface areas only. Therefore, △Spraying people directly, or △Spraying areas with unprotected citizens should not occur.

- The effectiveness of spraying disinfectants into the air has not been ed to be effective, and excessive spraying may cause harm to health and the environment, so we urge restraint. 

○ Fourth, after disinfection, wipe down residue with a damp cloth and ventilate the area.

○ The Central Disease Control Headquarters and the Ministry of Environment emphasize that disinfectants and sterilizers that are completely harmless to the human body do not exist. Take special attention to precautions to prevent harming your health through use of disinfectants in the effort of protecting yourself. 

- We will continue to give guidelines to assist local municipalities and prevention measure companies' safe use of disinfectants..

□ The Central Disease Control Headquarters again urges all citizens who have visited religious facilities that recently experienced cluster infections.

○ The number of ed cases related to the Gyeong-buk Sangju-si BTJ Center for All Nations is 756 as of 18:00, Jan. 15th, 2021. We believe there still are many untested cases.

- In the interest of preserving of the long and hard disease prevention measures of all our people, we urge visitors to the BTJ Center for All Nations between Nov. 27th, 2020 ~ Dec. 27th, 2020 recieve testing as soon as possible.

○ Also, the Gyeong-nam Jinju-si prayer center related cases are continuing to spread. We urge visitors to the prayer center and people who have come into close contact with them to recieve testing as soon as possible.

□ The Central Disease Control Headquarters urges adherence to preventive measures since the drop in ed cases in the recent 3rd wave of infections is not low enough and the virus' strong activeness during the winter can lead to new cluster infections.

○ The following three guidelines are especially emphasized.

- First, stay home and cancel all personal group gatherings. Attend religious activities, gatherings and ceremonies remotely.

- Second, in case of situations where social distancing of 2 meters of more is difficult either indoors or outdoors, always keep a mask on. Avoid situations where masks must be taken off such as face-to-face meals, drinking, smoking, etc.

- Third, recieve testing quickly in case of suspected symptoms such as fever or respiratory issues.

- Also, medical institutions should active issue letters of request for testing in case of COVID-19 suspected cases or respiratory symptoms, to facilitate quick testing at screening centers.

The purpose of this press release is to inform the public quickly and transparently about ongoing situations, and it is subject to change upon new findings from investigations.