"Background Behind the Call for Thorough New Coronavirus Quarantine and Prevention"

Passengers on a flight departing from Shanghai to Wuhan on the 21st are wearing masks to prevent infection from the novel coronavirus.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] As the number of people showing symptoms of the novel coronavirus infection, so-called 'Wuhan pneumonia,' increases, health authorities appear to be making an all-out effort to respond. Although there are few signs of large-scale spread domestically, the virus is spreading rapidly within China.

On the 22nd, President Moon Jae-in was briefed on the situation regarding the novel coronavirus and urged thorough quarantine and prevention measures, the Blue House announced. He also instructed a comprehensive assessment of the potential economic impact caused by this incident. This is because past outbreaks such as MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) and SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) negatively affected consumption activities due to infectious diseases.

In particular, since China, known as the initial outbreak site, and South Korea are approaching holiday periods, health authorities are on high alert for the spread of the infectious disease. Contrary to initial reports, it is now judged that limited human-to-human transmission is possible, so thorough preparations are necessary given the significant increase in travel during the holidays. The first confirmed case in South Korea was a Chinese woman residing in Wuhan who was reportedly planning to travel to South Korea and Japan during the holiday.

Although she was identified with a fever during the quarantine stage, there is concern that she may have spread the virus while moving around without isolation, as symptoms were not outwardly visible. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expects the risk of community transmission to increase as the number of Chinese visitors entering the country during the Chinese New Year rises. While quarantine efforts will be made to the extent possible, it is also emphasized that thorough responses are necessary at the community level, including medical institutions.

As President Moon emphasized, since the impact of infectious diseases on the real economy is considerable, the government plans to respond firmly. According to a recent report published by the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy, during the past SARS outbreak, export growth rates slowed, affecting GDP growth rates and negatively impacting the national economy. The number of domestic and international tourists is expected to decline, and there is a high possibility of negative effects on frontline retail markets as well.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.