Table 1.

COVID-19-related issues in Korea.

Date (D-M-Y)	Issues
20 January 2020	The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Korea. A 36-year-old Chinese woman who arrived in Incheon on the 19th from Wuhan, China: Infectious disease crisis alert level up from “Attention” to “Caution”.
24 January 20	The Second confirmed case, a 56-year-old Korean man who arrived at Gimpo Airport from Wuhan.
27 January 2020	Infectious disease crisis alert level up from “Caution” to “Warning”: New coronavirus central accident control headquarters in operation.
28 January 2020	January 13~26 to begin a full survey of immigrants from Wuhan.
31 January 2020	The first returning Korean residents from Wuhan start of isolated life at temporary living facilities in Jincheon and Asan.
4 February 2020	Restrictions on the entry to foreigners from China’s Hubei province. Application of “special entry procedures” for immigrants from China. Suspended international visa-free entry to Jeju Island.
5 February 2020	Second patient discharged. The first discharge of a domestic patient in 13 days of confirmed diagnosis.
12 February 2020	New coronavirus infections are named “COVID-19” according to the World Health Organization (WHO)’s decision to name diseases.
18 February 2020	Confirmed diagnosis 31st patient (61-year-old female, Korean), the first case of infection in Shincheonji Church in Daegu.
19 February 2020	A full survey of more than 1000 believers who participated in the worship service of the Shincheonji Church in Daegu with 31st patient.
20 February 2020	The first death occurred. A confirmed case related to Cheongdo Daenam Hospital (63-year-old male).
23 February 2020	Raise the infectious disease crisis alerted to the highest level of “Serious”.
25 February 2020	With the cooperation of the Shincheonji Church, the entire COVID-19 investigation will begin.
26 February 2020	The cumulative number of confirmed cases in Korea is 1146, reaching 1000.
29 February 2020	909 new confirmed cases per day, the largest increase in scale.
2 March 2020	The first opening of a life therapy center for mild patients in Daegu.
3 March 2020	The cumulative number of confirmed cases in Korea is 5186, reaching the 5000 mark.
7 March 2020	Implementation of a five-part mask system that determines the date of purchase according to the year of birth.
8 March 2020	The first confirmed case of the Seoul Guro Call Center, the largest case of collective infection in the metropolitan area (56-year-old female).
11 March 2020	World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global pandemic on COVID-19.
15 March 2020	The declaration of special disaster zones in Daegu and parts of North Gyeongsang Province: “Special entry procedures” will be applied to those departing from France, Germany, Spain, Britain, and Netherlands and will be expanded to those entering Europe on the 16th.
22 March 2020	Start of “high-intensity social distancing” such as restrictions on the operation of religious, entertainment, and indoor sports facilities: Mandatory examination of immigrants from Europe, mandatory self-isolation for two weeks.
27 March 2020	Mandatory self-isolation for two weeks from the United States.
1 April 2020	Self-isolation required for all immigrants for two weeks.
3 April 2020	The cumulative number of confirmed cases in Korea is 10,062 people, reaching the 10,000 mark.
4 April 2020	Announcement of two weeks extension of high-intensity social distancing.
13 April 2020	Mandatory examination of immigrants from the United States.
15 April 2020	Voting of the National Assembly, including COVID-19, confirmed and self-isolated cases.
18 April 2020	18 new confirmed cases. Decreased confirmed cases.
19 April 2020	Announcement of extension of May 5th by mitigating social distancing.
24 April 2020	Zero daily deaths in 39 days.