COVID-19 in South Korea: epidemiological and spatiotemporal patterns of the spread and the role of aggressive diagnostic tests in the early phase.

ABSTRACT:

Background

South Korea experienced the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in the early period; thus data from this country could provide significant implications for global mitigation strategies. This study reports how COVID-19 has spread in South Korea and examines the effects of rapid widespread diagnostic testing on the spread of the disease in the early epidemic phase.

Methods

We collected daily data on the number of confirmed cases, tests and deaths due to COVID-19 from 20 January to 13 April 2020. We estimated the spread pattern with a logistic growth model, calculated the daily reproduction number (Rt) and examined the fatality pattern of COVID-19.

Results

From the start date of the epidemic in Korea (18 February 2020), the time to peak and plateau w

SUBMITTER: Lee W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7454567 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature