Effectiveness of Intervention Strategies on MERS-CoV Transmission Dynamics in South Korea, 2015: Simulations on the Network Based on the Real-World Contact Data

Lee

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

Self Cite

A novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 emerged in December 2019, and it took only a few months for WHO to declare COVID-19 as a pandemic in March 2020. It is very challenging to discover complex spatial–temporal transmission mechanisms. However, it is crucial to capture essential features of regional-temporal patterns of COVID-19 to implement prompt and effective prevention or mitigation interventions. In this work, we develop a novel framework of compatible window-wise dynamic mode decomposition (CwDMD) for nonlinear infectious disease dynamics. The compatible window is a selected representative subdomain of time series data, in which compatibility between spatial and temporal resolutions is established so that DMD can provide meaningful data analysis. A total of four compatible windows have been selected from COVID-19 time-series data from January 20, 2020, to May 10, 2021, in South Korea. The spatiotemporal patterns of these four windows are then analyzed. Several hot and cold spots were identified, their spatial–temporal relationships, and some hidden regional patterns were discovered. Our analysis reveals that the first wave was contained in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk areas, but it spread rapidly to the whole of South Korea after the second wave. Later on, the spatial distribution is seen to become more homogeneous after the third wave. Our analysis also identifies that some patterns are not related to regional relevance. These findings have then been analyzed and associated with the inter-regional and local characteristics of South Korea. Thus, the present study is expected to provide public health officials helpful insights for future regional-temporal specific mitigation plans.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Discovering spatiotemporal patterns of COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea

Lee

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

Self Cite

“…South Korea is one of the most successful countries for mitigating and preventing the COVID-19 pandemic. Since South Korea has learned a valuable lesson from the MERS-CoV outbreak, which was the largest outbreak originated from the Middle Eastern countries in 2015, various preparedness plans have been initiated for emerging infectious diseases including medical infrastructure and transparent data disclosure through daily briefings 37 . Real-time infection transmission notification through mobile phone applications or websites, and a real-time alarm system through mobile phone (including location-specific risk notification through GPS) have been newly developed during the COVID-19 pandemic.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Discovering Spatial-temporal Patterns of COVID-19 Pandemic in South Korea: A Data-driven Approach using Dynamic Mode Decomposition

Lee

et al. 2021

Preprint

Self Cite

A novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 emerged in December 2019, and it took only a few months for WHO to declare COVID-19 as a pandemic in March 2020. It is very challenging to discover complex spatial-temporal transmission mechanisms. However, it is crucial to capture essential features of regional-temporal patterns of COVID-19 to implement prompt and effective prevention or mitigation interventions. In this work, we develop a novel framework of compatible window-wise dynamic mode decomposition (CwDMD) for nonlinear infectious disease dynamics. The compatible window is a selected representative subdomain of time series data, in which compatibility between spatial and temporal resolutions is established so that DMD can provide meaningful data analysis. A total of four compatible windows have been selected from COVID-19 time-series data from January 20, 2020, to May 10, 2021, in South Korea. The spatiotemporal patterns of these four windows are then analyzed. Several hot and cold spots were identified, their spatial-temporal relationships, and some hidden regional patterns were discovered. Our analysis reveals that the first wave was contained in Daegu and Gyeongbuk area but it spread rapidly to the whole of South Korea after the second wave. Later on, the spatial distribution is seen to become more homogeneous after the third wave. Our analysis also identifies that some patterns are not related to regional relevance. These findings have then been analyzed and associated with the inter-regional and local characteristics of South Korea. Thus, the present study is expected to provide public health officials helpful insights for future regional-temporal specific mitigation plans.

“…First, learning from the experience with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) contracted by 40 persons in 2015 [8].…”

Section: Covid-19 Infection In Korea and Japan Between 20201-202110mentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of COVID-19 between Korea and Japan

2022

Keimyung Med J

Korea had always been lower than in Japan and was called "Korean protection", its contributing factors being as follows: 1. learning from the experience of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, 2. thorough PCR examinations, 3. comprehensive triage policy, 4. efforts of medical staff, 5. cooperation between the citizens and government. In Korea between 2021.11 and 2021.12, the number of newly infected cases, hospitalized cases, and deaths per week increased 3.5-, 2.6-, and 4.8-fold, respectively, compared with October cases. The main reason for this increase was attributed to the so-called "with corona" policy adopted by the Korean government during the same period. In contrast, during the same period, the number of newly infected cases per day dropped dramatically to less than 1,000 in Japan, attributed to the high rate of vaccination implementation and adherence to social restrictions. Between 2022.1 and 2022.4, the Omicron variant (BA1 and BA2) of COVID-19 became prevalent in both countries. Especially, since March 12, an infection explosion occurred in Korea with over 300,000 people recorded consecutively every day. During the same period, in Japan, the number of newly infected cases remained at less than one hundred thousand. Intercommunication is needed between the two countries to attain COVID-19 containment.