[Yonhap Photo]
A preparatory conference involving South Korean experts, government officials two WHO experts will be held on March 18 to see how the immune system of patients respond to COVID-19, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
South Korea has accepted the WHO's proposal to study "clinical progress and viral immunological characteristics" of COVID-19 patients at home, KCDC Deputy Director Kwon Jun-wook told a regular press briefing on Tuesday. "We expect to carry out scientific analysis in the future and help establish response strategies for countries around the world in a global pandemic."
Kwon described COVID-19 as "very clever", saying it proliferates even before symptoms develop and is highly contagious when patients show mild symptoms. "I'm a little bit cautious about the wording, but I'd like to say that if I were to figuratively describe, it's a very clever virus."
Researchers will analyze the immunological and hematological characteristics of a patient by securing examples on an hourly basis. It can be referenced in establishing a response strategy.
"In fact, it is an activity that the quarantine organizations of each country are currently doing to learn from other countries' experiences and change their countermeasures based on them," Kwon said. "It will help each country develop strategies for future responses to a global pandemic."
reporter
Lim Chang-won
cwlim34@ajunews.com
