Yoo HW, et al. J Korean Med Sci. 2021 Oct;36(41):e291. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2021.36.e291

Background: Evidence regarding the effectiveness of contact tracing of COVID-19 and the related social distancing is limited and inconclusive. Objective: This study aims to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in South Korea and evaluate whether a social distancing campaign is effective in mitigating the spread of COVID-19. Methods: We used contract tracing data to investigate the epidemic characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in South Korea and evaluate whether a social distancing campaign was effective in mitigating the spread of COVID-19. We calculated the mortality rate for COVID-19 by infection type (cluster vs noncluster) and tested whether new confirmed COVID-19 trends changed after a social distancing campaign. Results: There were 2537 patients with confirmed COVID-19 who completed the epidemiologic survey: 1305 (51.4%) cluster cases and 1232 (48.6%) noncluster cases. The mortality rate was significantly higher in cluster cases linked to medical facilities (11/143, 7.70% vs 5/1232, 0.41%; adjusted percentage difference 7.99%; 95% CI 5.83 to 10.14) and long-term care facilities (19/221, 8.60% vs 5/1232, 0.41%; adjusted percentage difference 7.56%; 95% CI 5.66 to 9.47) than in noncluster cases. The change in trends of newly confirmed COVID-19 cases before and after the social distancing campaign was significantly negative in the entire cohort (adjusted trend difference –2.28; 95% CI –3.88 to –0.68) and the cluster infection group (adjusted trend difference –0.96; 95% CI –1.83 to –0.09). Conclusions: In a nationwide contact tracing study in South Korea, COVID-19 linked to medical and long-term care facilities significantly increased the risk of mortality compared to noncluster COVID-19. A social distancing campaign decreased the spread of COVID-19 in South Korea and differentially affected cluster infections of SARS-CoV-2.

Eunju Kim, In Kyung Yoo, Dong Keon Yon, Joo Young Cho, and Sung Pyo Hong. J Neurogastroenterol Motil 2020;26:274-80. https://doi.org/10.5056/jnm19130

Jung Min Lee, In Kyung Yoo, Eunju Kim, Sung Pyo Hong, and Joo Young Cho. Gut and Liver 2021;15:546-52. https://doi.org/10.5009/gnl20117

Kim WH, et al. Yonsei Med J. 2023 Mar;64(3):167-174. https://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2022.0342