METHODS: Daily briefings from the Korean Center for Disease Control and the Central Disaster Management Headquarters were assembled from January 20 to May 15, 2020.
RESULTS: By May 15, 2020, 11,018 COVID-19 cases were identified, of which 15.7% occurred in workplaces such as health-care facilities, call centers, sports clubs, coin karaoke, and nightlife destinations. When the first confirmed case was diagnosed, the Korean Center for Disease Control and Central Disaster Management Headquarters responded quickly, emphasizing early detection with numerous tests and a social distancing policy. This slowed the spread of infection without intensive containment, shut down, or mitigation interventions. After entering the public health blue alert level, a business continuity plan was distributed. After entering the orange level, the Ministry of Employment and Labor developed workplace guidelines for COVID-19 consisting of social distancing, flexible working schedules, early identification of workers with suspected infections, and disinfection of workplaces. Owing to the intensive workplace social distancing policy, workplaces remained safe with only small sporadic group infections.
CONCLUSIONS: The workplace social distancing policy with timely implementation of specific guidelines was a key to preventing a large outbreak of COVID-19 in Korean workplaces. However, sporadic incidents of COVID-19 are still ongoing, and risk assessment in vulnerable workplaces should be continued.
方法:韩国疾病控制中心和中央灾害管理总部的每日简报会于2020年1月20日至5月15日举行。
结果:到2020年5月15日,确认了11,018例COVID-19病例,其中15.7%发生在医疗机构等工作场所,呼叫中心,体育俱乐部,硬币卡拉OK,和夜生活目的地。当第一例确诊病例被确诊时,韩国疾病控制中心和中央灾害管理总部迅速作出反应,强调通过大量测试和社会距离政策进行早期检测。这在没有密集遏制的情况下减缓了感染的传播,关闭,或缓解干预措施。进入公共卫生蓝色警戒级别后,发布了业务连续性计划。进入橙色水平后,就业和劳动部制定了COVID-19工作场所指南,包括社会距离,灵活的工作时间表,及早发现疑似感染的工人,和工作场所的消毒。由于密集的工作场所社交距离政策,工作场所仍然安全,只有少量散发性群体感染。
结论:及时实施具体指南的工作场所社交距离政策是防止COVID-19在韩国工作场所大规模爆发的关键。然而,零星的COVID-19事件仍在继续,应继续进行脆弱工作场所的风险评估。