코로나19 대유행 이후 일상으로 복귀할 수 있을까? 대한민국 사례의 교훈

www.koreanglaucoma.org

Since the first COVID-19 case reported in China at the end of 2019, over hundred million people worldwide have suffered from COVID-19, over 2.5 million of them having died (as of March 8, 2021).¹ In the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries are closing borders and keeping their citizens in ‘lockdown.’ South Korea first reported a COVID-19 case on January 20, 2020. In mid-February, SARS-CoV-2 infections exploded, soaring to a peak of 900 per day, due to very rapid transmission among members of a large church in the southern city of Dae- gu and others with whom they came into contact. Subsequently though, despite late outbreaks in a call center and nightclubs in Seoul, one of the most crowded cities on earth, South Korea successfully ‘flattened the curve’ of new infections. Currently (as of March 8, 2021), the total number of confirmed cases is

92,817, 1,642 of whom have died, for a mortality rate of only 1.8%.² It is noteworthy that South Korea has achieved this with minimal restrictions imposed on daily lives and less damage incurred to the economy.

Since the beginning of the outbreak, South Korea has main- tained an open society. This was possible thanks to the very ro- bust ‘K-Quarantine’ system and its 3Ts: Testing, Tracing, and Treatment.³ Having learned from the painful experience of the MERS outbreak in 2015, South Korea intensified its disease control infrastructure and its legal framework. The national government promptly undertook the development of coronavi- rus test kits for mass production and proceeded to test far more people than any other country (as of March 8, 2021, 6,861,809 tests have been performed, for a positivity rate of 1.4%).² The government also set up screening stations to enhance access to diagnostic tests and to spare hospitals and clinics from being overwhelmed. The more than 600 screening stations opened nationwide have provided counseling for people with possi- ble COVID-19 symptoms, such as coughing or fever, prior to their visiting medical facilities. The stations have been diverse in their form and function as well: drive-thru and walk-thru stations are two examples. At 65 drive-through stations nation- wide, subjects are tested without leaving their cars. They are given a questionnaire, a remote temperature scan, and a throat swab. This enhanced accessibility of diagnostic testing for suspected cases has enabled early detection of COVID-19 and minimized further spread. Additionally, to avoid introduction

코로나19 대유행 이후 일상으로 복귀할 수 있을까? 대한민국 사례의 교훈

Can We Go Back to Normal after the COVID-19 Pandemic? Lessons from South Korea

김용우, 정진욱, 박기호

Yong Woo Kim, MD, PhD, Jin Wook Jeoung, MD, PhD^*, Ki Ho Park, MD, PhD^*

서울대학교 의과대학 서울대학교병원 안과학교실

Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

Received: 2021. 3. 20. Revised: 2021. 4. 6.

Accepted: 2021. 4. 7.

Corresponding Author: Jin Wook Jeoung, MD, PhD

Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, #101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Korea

Tel: +82-2-2072-2438, Fax: +82-2-741-3187 E-mail: neuroprotect@gmail.com

Corresponding Author: Ki Ho Park, MD, PhD

Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, #101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Korea

Tel: +82-2-2072-3172, Fax: +82-2-741-3187 E-mail: kihopark@snu.ac.kr

* KHP and JWJ contributed equally.

Journal of the Korean Glaucoma Society 2021;10(1):25-26

https://doi.org/10.36299/jkgs.2021.10.1.25

Letter to the Editor

Journal of the Korean Glaucoma Society

Journal of The Korean Glaucoma SocieTy

26

of the virus from abroad, mandatory testing has been intro- duced for all inbound travelers. Once confirmed positive, the Korean government traces the patient’s recent movements to quickly isolate and quarantine their close contacts. For epide- miological investigation, basic information is collected through interviews with confirmed cases. If necessary, additional inter- views with health care workers and families are conducted.

We are concerned but cautiously preparing for the next wave of COVID-19. As ophthalmologists need to examine patients at very close proximity, a major concern of theirs is whether COVID-19 is transmissible in such a context. A recent report suggested that the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission via tears is low, while another indicated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 on the conjunctival swab of confirmed COVID-19 patients with no ocular symptoms.^4,5 At the moment, fortunately, there has been no COVID-19 outbreak related to ophthalmological practice in South Korea. This may only imply that prevention of respiratory infections and close contact are of the utmost importance. Thanks to the intensive ‘K-Quarantine’ system, ophthalmology here in South Korea is carefully returning to normality. However, things may not be completely the same as before COVID-19. For example, plastic breath shields have been installed on all slit-lamps. Also, doctors and patients are required to wear facial masks at clinics and are strongly advised to regularly disinfect their hands. Cough etiquette and not shaking hands have become courtesies. Elective sur- geries and in-office procedures (e.g., intravitreal injection, laser therapy) are carefully performed with personal protective equipment. Body temperature and any presence of suspicious symptoms are checked before entry to clinics and hospital buildings is permitted. Plexiglass screens have been installed for each individual at hospital cafeterias. Moreover, faculty and residents currently are conducting online or web-based classes and conferences.

South Korea initiated vaccinating against COVID-19 from February 26, 2021 and has received 316,865 vaccine doses (as of March 8, 2021).⁶ At the same time, a total of 349,398,520 vaccine doses have been administered worldwide.¹ Vaccina-

tion may accelerate the achievement of herd immunity against COVID-19, but it will take time to contain the disease, as evidenced by the outbreak in Israel, the leading country for COVID-19 vaccination. We must take care of patients with po- tential risks and be prepared for when the risk might rise again.

We also need to be prepared to protect ourselves. This means that we might never be able to go back to the pre-COVID-19

‘normal.’ Everybody has a role to play, and we are doing our absolute best to contain and manage this outbreak.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors have no conflicts to disclose.

References

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