Thread by @HannahNamMD

🚨🇰🇷South Korea Press Conference Summary 030920 #COVID19

"Korea has faced difficulties w #COVID19 as the previous model of isolation/quarantine no longer seemed feasible.

Rather, we believe that we have created a new model fit for a pandemic in a globalized world." /1

Emphasis was placed on transparency, rapidly available and accurate information. Transparency is essential to ensure active participation from citizens.

Rather than erecting and imposing physical and legal barriers, social barriers were created through social distancing. /2

New innovative ideas were taken seriously and enacted ASAP. World class IT programs were implemented

🚘 Drive thru testing

🛰 Utilization of GPS information for contact tracing.

🧳Travelers entering the country DL a self report app by KCDC to track symptoms and wherabouts. /3

However one of the most important elements of the management of #COVID19 is rapid and accurate diagnostic capability. Without information chaos and mistrust ensues. SK is able to process an average of 12,000 samples a day; up to 20,000 if needed. /4

Preparedness is essential. Perhaps coincidentally and fortuitously SK had run a Table Top Exercise for the potential large-scale novel coronavirus outbreak in December 2019 and had established an organized system to expand testing capability. /5

SK is by no means declaring victory. They are prepared for a prolonged mitigation phase as #COVID19 has now reached multiple other countries and are preparing for imported cases. In addition this is a very "smart virus" that continues to cause multiple clusters of cases. /6

Here is the foreign press briefing video in its entirety.

Here is also an English version of the press release as well.

This blew up! Muting for now but thank you for the kind words 💜

I strongly recommend watching the vid as it gives a very comprehensive overview. This thread is summarized and paraphrased.

Unfortunately this is still the beginning of mitigation for SK as clusters continue.