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Highlights Aggressive responses to COVID-19 were successful in controlling an initial peak Korea's government reformed the epidemic preparedness system after MERS in 2015. Expanding rapid tests, case tracking/isolation, and information sharing were key. Hospitals set up selective clinics and safe clinics outside for patient screening. Hospitals modified personal protective equipment use and health care personnel report related symptoms daily.

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Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is an acute viral respiratory illness with high mortality caused by a new strain of betacoronavirus (MERS-CoV). Since the report of the first patient in Saudi Arabia in 2012, large-scale outbreaks through hospital-acquired infection and inter-hospital transmission have been reported. Most of the patients reported in South Korea were also infected in hospital settings. Therefore, to eliminate the spread of MERS-CoV, infection prevention and control measures should be implemented with rigor. The present guideline has been drafted on the basis of the experiences of infection control in the South Korean hospitals involved in the recent MERS outbreak and on domestic and international infection prevention and control guidelines. To ensure efficient MERS-CoV infection prevention and control, care should be taken to provide comprehensive infection control measures including contact control, hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, disinfection, and environmental cleaning.