Coronavirus Updates | News, Useful Tips, and the Numbers (4/27 updates)

Hello everyone! We are Creatrip, your group of Korean travel experts providing the latest news about Korea on a daily basis.

The recent Coronavirus epidemic has seen over 2,900,000 confirmed cases worldwide and has caused much panic. If you have plans to travel Korea, you must be wondering how the epidemic would affect your travels, and whether it's even safe to travel Korea at all. To ensure you are updated with the latest news about how the epidemic is affecting Korea, we'll be updating this post with news on a daily basis.

If you have plans to come to Korea, bookmark this post for easy reference!

Latest News about the Coronavirus in Korea

The Coronavirus Epidemic in Korea : The Numbers

Last Updated: 2020.04.27 17:40 / Source: coronaboard.kr

Confirmed Cases (Under Treatment + Recovered + Deaths)	Deaths	Recovered
10,738(+10)	243(+1) (243/10,738)	8,764(+47) (8,764/10,738)
Suspected Cases (Under Inspection + Tested Negative)	Under Inspection	Tested Negative
601,660(+3,375)	8,895(-104) (8,895/601,660)	582,027(+3,469) (582,027/601,660)

Currently 10,738 cases have been confirmed. 8,764 of those 10,738 have fully recovered, and 243 patients have unfortunately passed away.

While there are 601,660 suspected cases, most of those cases have been tested negative or are still going through inspection while under quarantine. As such, the number alone isn't a reason to be alarmed or panic. However, given the speed at which the virus is spreading and more cases are being confirmed, we would urge visitors to take all necessary safety precautions, such as wearing a mask in crowded areas and washing hands often.

For your reference, here are the number of confirmed patients per region. Make sure to take more caution when visiting regions with large numbers of confirmed cases.

Region	Confirmed Cases
Daegu	6,847
Gyeongbuk	1,364
Gyeonggi	671
Seoul	629
Quarantine	436
Chungnam	142
Busan	137
Gyeongnam	117
Incheon	92
Gangwon	53
Sejong	46
Chungbuk	45
Ulsan	43
Daejeon	40
Gwangju	30
Jeonbuk	18
Jeonnam	15
Jeju	13

Outbreak Timeline

For those of you traveling to Korea, we've prepared the latest news on which areas have been affected, and about common tourist services or attractions that have been closed. Make sure to read through the list, so you aren't disappointed by arriving at a destination only to find it closed down. Most importantly, stay safe!

2020.04.27: [00:00] 601,660 examined, 10,738 confirmed, 243 deaths.
2020.04.26: [00:00] 598,285 examined, 10,728 confirmed, 242 deaths.
2020.04.25: [00:00] 595,161 examined, 10,718 confirmed, 240 deaths.
2020.04.24: [00:00] 589,520 examined, 10,708 confirmed, 240 deaths.
2020.04.23: [00:00] 583,971 examined, 10,702 confirmed, 240 deaths.
2020.04.22: [00:00] 577,959 examined, 10,694 confirmed, 238 deaths.
2020.04.21: [00:00] 571,014 examined, 10,683 confirmed, 237 deaths.
2020.04.20: [00:00] 563,035 examined, 10,674 confirmed, 236 deaths.
2020.04.19: [00:00] 559,109 examined, 10,661 confirmed, 234 deaths.
2020.04.18: [00:00] 554,834 examined, 10,653 confirmed, 232 deaths.
2020.04.17: [00:00] 546,463 examined, 10,635 confirmed, 230 deaths.
2020.04.16: [00:00] 538,775 examined, 10,613 confirmed, 229 deaths.
2020.04.15: [00:00] 534,552 examined, 10,591 confirmed, 225 deaths.
2020.04.14: [00:00] 527,438 examined, 10,564 confirmed, 222 deaths.
2020.04.13: [00:00] 518,743 examined, 10,537 confirmed, 217 deaths.
2020.04.12: [00:00] 514,621 examined, 10,512 confirmed, 214 deaths.
2020.04.11: [00:00] 510,479 examined, 10,480 confirmed, 211 deaths.
2020.04.10: [00:00] 503,051 examined, 10,450 confirmed, 208 deaths.
2020.04.09: [00:00] 494,711 examined, 10,423 confirmed, 204 deaths.
2020.04.08: [00:00] 486,003 examined, 10,384 confirmed, 200 deaths.
2020.04.07: [00:00] 477,304 examined, 10,331 confirmed, 192 deaths.
2020.04.06: [00:00] 466,804 examined, 10,284 confirmed, 186 deaths.
2020.04.05: [00:00] 461,233 examined, 10,237 confirmed, 183 deaths.
2020.04.04: [00:00] 455,032 examined, 10,156 confirmed, 177 deaths.
2020.04.03: [00:00] 443,273 examined, 10,062 confirmed, 174 deaths.
2020.04.02: [00:00] 431,743 examined, 9,976 confirmed, 169 deaths.
2020.04.01: [00:00] 421,547 examined, 9,887 confirmed, 165 deaths.
2020.03.31: [00:00] 410,564 examined, 9,786 confirmed, 162 deaths.
2020.03.30: [00:00] 395,194 examined, 9,661 confirmed, 158 deaths.
2020.03.29: [00:00] 394,141 examined, 9,583 confirmed, 152 deaths.
2020.03.28: [00:00] 387,925 examined, 9,478 confirmed, 144 deaths.
2020.03.27: [00:00] 376,961 examined, 9,332 confirmed, 139 deaths.
2020.03.26: [00:00] 364,942 examined, 9,241 confirmed, 131 deaths.
2020.03.25: [00:00] 357,896 examined, 9,137 confirmed, 126 deaths.
2020.03.24: [00:00] 348,582 examined, 9,037 confirmed, 120 deaths.
2020.03.23: [00:00] 338,036 examined, 8,961 confirmed, 111 deaths.
2020.03.22: [00:00] 331,780 examined, 8,897 confirmed, 104 deaths.
2020.03.21: [00:00] 327,509 examined, 8,799 confirmed, 102 deaths.
2020.03.20: [00:00] 316,664 examined, 8,652 confirmed, 94 deaths.
2020.03.19: [00:00] 307,024 examined, 8,565 confirmed, 91 deaths.
2020.03.18: [00:00] 295,647 examined, 8,413 confirmed, 84 deaths.
2020.03.17: [00:00] 286,716 examined, 8,320 confirmed, 81 deaths.
2020.03.16: [00:00] 274,504 examined, 8,236 confirmed, 75 deaths.
2020.03.15: [00:00] 268,212 examined, 8,162 confirmed, 75 deaths.
2020.03.14: [00:00] 261,335 examined, 8,086 confirmed, 72 deaths.
2020.03.13: [00:00] 248,647 examined, 7,979 confirmed, 67 deaths.
2020.03.12: [00:00] 234,998 examined, 7,869 confirmed, 66 deaths.
2020.03.11: [00:00] 222,395 examined, 7,755 confirmed, 60 deaths.
2020.03.10: [00:00] 210,144 examined, 7,513 confirmed, 54 deaths.
2020.03.09: [00:00] 196,618 examined, 7,382 confirmed, 51 deaths.
2020.03.08: [00:00] 188,518 examined, 7,134 confirmed, 50 deaths.
2020.03.07: [00:00] 178,189 examined, 6,767 confirmed, 44 deaths.
2020.03.06: [00:00] 164,740 examined, 6,284 confirmed, 42 deaths.
2020.03.05: [00:00] 146,541 examined, 5,766 confirmed, 35 deaths.
2020.03.04: [00:00] 136,707 examined, 5,328 confirmed, 32 deaths.
2020.03.03: [00:00] 125,851 examined, 4,812 confirmed, 28 deaths.
2020.03.02: [00:00] 109,591 examined, 4,212 confirmed, 22 deaths.
2020.03.01: [16:00] 95,185 examined, 3,176 confirmed, 28 deaths.
2020.02.29: Total number of COVID-19 patients in Daegu was 2,055. 893 beds are available and will secure 1,000 more beds by March 5th.
2020.02.29: Ran examination on 88% of listed Shincheonji believers and 1.9% were having symptoms of COVID-19.
2020.02.28: Collected list of 212,324 believers of Shincheonji.
2020.02.27: To support the hospitals in Daegu, the government announced exemption law to pay health insurance reimbursement.
2020.02.27: Korean travelers in certain areas of China were isolated, and the Korean government demanded rectification.
2020.02.25: Increased supplies to Daegu, Gyeongbuk area. Will secure 1,600 beds for COVID-19 patients.
2020.02.25: The government will receive the full list of Shincheonji, and run examination on Shincheonji believers within jurisdiction.
2020.02.24: South Korea has raised its threat alert level to the highest degree, empowering the Korean government to impose regional lockdown. The Korean government has made the decision to hold inspections on 28,000 citizens in Daegu showing any symptoms of the common cold.
2020.02.24: There has been yet another spike in the number of confirmed patients, from 603 to 794. 454 of the cases are affiliated with the Shincheonji Church.
2020.02.23: Israel has issued a ban on the entry of Koreans. This ban is in response to a group of Koreans who had visited Israel for pilgrimage being confirmed to hold the virus.
2020.02.23: Lotte Department Store, Yeongdeungpo Branch has temporarily closed down for disinfection.
2020.02.23: The number of confirmed cases has reached 603. 4 more patients have passed away. 329 of the cases have been confirmed to be affiliated with the Shincheonji Church. There has even been an infant of 16 months confirmed to have contracted the virus.
2020.02.22: The number of confirmed cases has gone up from 204 to 433. At least 231 of the 433 total confirmed cases are affiliated with the Shincheonji Church.
2020.02.21: The Health & Welfare Committee of the National Assembly has passed new amendments to the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, the Quarantine Act, and the Medical Service Act. They are due to go through the full National Assembly. The new amendments include a ban on the export of medical goods such as respirator masks and hand sanitizers when there is a lack of supply during periods of epidemics, allowing a ban on entry for foreigners from nations or areas in danger of infectious diseases, and provision of medical goods to children and the elderly.
2020.02.21: Yet a larger leap in the number of confirmed cases, from 104 the previous day to 204. 85 of the new confirmed cases are affiliated with the Daegu Shincheonji Church.
2020.02.20: South Korea has reported its first fatality, from the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region.
2020.02.20: There has been yet another leap in the number of confirmed cases from 51 to 104 in a day. The number of cases in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region has reached 70, and 43 of the cases are from the Daegu Shincheonji Church, the same church as the 31st confirmed patient. The Korean government has declared that the epidemic has reached the 'community-level outbreak' stage.
2020.02.19: There has been a leap in the number of confirmed cases from 31 to 51 in a day. Among the 20 new cases, 15 patients are from the same church as the 31st confirmed patient. Most of the new confirmed patients are in the Daegu region.
2020.02.18: Kyung Hee University has announced that its campus is now closed to any outside tourists for safety concerns. While they have not been inspecting or stopping outside visitors from entering, we recommend that tourists respect the university policy and refrain from visiting.
2020.02.11: Macau and Hong Kong have also been designated as "major epidemic areas." As such, visitors entering from Macau, Hong Kong, or China, as well as visitors holding a Macau, Hong Kong, or Chinese passport will be required to go through a special entry clearance lane, and provide a valid phone number and address to be verified on-site. If unable to provide a valid phone number and address, they will be refused entry.
2020.02.07: Myeongdong Lotte Department Store/Duty-Free Store has temporarily closed down for disinfection.
- 2020.02.11: After disinfection, Myeongdong Lotte Department Store/Duty-Free Store is now open and back to business.
2020.02.06: China has been designated as a "major epidemic area." As such, visitors entering from China, as well as visitors holding a Chinese passport will be required to go through a special entry clearance lane, and provide a valid phone number and address to be verified on-site. If unable to provide a valid phone number and address, they will be refused entry.
2020.02.03: Lotte Duty-Free Store (Jeju) has temporarily closed down for disinfection.
- 2020.02.07: After disinfection, Lotte Duty-Free Store (Jeju) is now open and back to business.
2020.02.02: The Shilla Duty-Free Store (Seoul and Jeju) has temporarily closed down for disinfection.
- 2020.02.07: After disinfection, The Shilla Duty-Free Store (Seoul and Jeju) is now open and back to business.
2020.02.02: From 02/04 onwards, any foreigners who had visited the Hubei region in the last 14 days are banned from entering Korea. Any Korean nationals who had visited the region will be required to go through quarantine for 14 days after entering Korea. The visa exemption policy for Chinese nationals visiting Jeju Island is also cancelled.
2020.01.31: Ewha Womans University has announced that public access to the campus is now restricted for safety concerns.
2020.01.20: A patient has been diagnosed with the coronavirus. This is the first confirmed case of the coronavirus in Korea.

Safety Precautions to Avoid the Coronavirus While in Korea

Make sure to wash your hands for at least 30 seconds with soap every once in a while. Also, avoid touching your face, especially your eyes and nose with your hands.
Whenever you cough, make sure to cover your mouth and nose with your sleeves.
Make sure to wear a respirator mask whenever going outside, especially when going into crowded areas with many people.
- After the outbreak of the coronavirus epidemic, the prices of respirator masks have hiked up, and it is often difficult to get a supply of respirator masks.
- In particular, if you are showing any symptoms including fever, coughing, etc., please wear a mask at all times.
If you are showing any symptoms and are concerned that you may have contracted the virus, call 1339 to contact the Korea Center for Disease Control & Prevention. The number provides a translation service so you can communicate in English or Chinese. To use the translation service, follow the instructions provided and press the number '4' on the dial.
Hand sanitizers and respirator masks are provided for free on Seoul's public transportation systems. While they quickly run out on the subway, you can easily find masks on buses. Please only take one, only when necessary.

The Coronavirus Epidemic around the World : The Numbers

Last Updated: 2020.04.27 17:40 / Source: coronaboard.kr

Confirmed Cases (Under Treatment + Recovered + Deaths)	Deaths	Recovered
2,965,474 (+59,098)	207,061(+3,160) (207,061/2,965,474)	601,660(+3,375) (601,660/2,965,474)

With so many confirmed cases globally, we’ve prepared the number of cases per nation for your reference. No matter how small the number of cases in your nation, the virus does not discriminate, so make sure to wear a mask and take care of your personal hygiene.

Region	Confirmed Cases
USA	987,322 (55,415 Deaths)
Spain	226,629 (23,190 Deaths)
Italy	197,675 (26,644 Deaths)
Germany	157,770 (5,976 Deaths)
Great Britain	152,840 (20,732 Deaths)
France	124,575 (22,856 Deaths)
Turkey	110,130 (2,805 Deaths)
Iran	90,481 (5,710 Deaths)
China	87,147 (794 Deaths)
Russia	82,830 (4,633 Deaths)

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us at help@creatrip.com, or leave a comment below.