KCDC Risk Assessments on the Initial Phase of theCOVID-19 Outbreak in Korea

ABSTRACT

Objectives@#This study aims to evaluate the risk assessments of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) in the KoreaCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), from the point of detection to the provision of basicinformation to the relevant public health authorities. @*Methods@#To estimate the overall risk of specific public health events, probability, and impact at thecountry-level were evaluated using available information. To determine the probability of particularpublic health events, the risk of importation and risk of transmission were taken into consideration.KCDC used 5 levels (“very low,” “low,” “moderate,” “high,” and “very high”) for each category and overallrisk was eventually decided. @*Results@#A total of 8 risk assessments were performed on 8 separate occasions between January 8th toFebruary 28th, 2020, depending on the detection and report of COVID-19 cases in other countries. Theoverall risk of the situation in each assessment increased in severity over this period “low” (first),“moderate” (second), “high” (third), “high” (fourth), “high” (fifth), “high” (sixth), “high” (seventh), and“very high” (eighth). @*Conclusion@#The KCDC’s 8 risk assessments were utilized to activate national emergency responsemechanisms and eventually prepare for the pandemic to ensure the containment and mitigation ofCOVID-19 with non-pharmaceutical public health measures.