Jeonbuk Province Orders All Chinese Exchange Students to Return Home... Local Governments' Full-Scale Battle Against Wuhan Pneumonia

Goyang City Disinfects Restaurants and Cafes Visited by Third Confirmed Case
Legal Action Planned Against Fake News Causing Anxiety

On the last day of the Lunar New Year holiday, the 27th, the fourth confirmed case of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) was reported in South Korea. On this day, a preventive notice related to Wuhan pneumonia was posted at Seoul Station. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

As the government launches an all-out effort to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus infection known as 'Wuhan pneumonia,' local governments have also rolled up their sleeves.

On the 27th, Jeonbuk Province and the Talent Development Foundation announced that all 55 students undergoing experiential training in China were repatriated due to concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus infection, 'Wuhan pneumonia.'

The 40 elementary school students and 15 middle school students from the province had been attending language classes and cultural experience training in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, from January 22 to February 1.

The students all returned to Incheon Airport that afternoon and were on their way to the Jeonbuk Provincial Office.

Upon arrival, the students underwent health examinations and, if no abnormalities were found, were sent home with their parents. Jeonbuk Province reported that none of the students undergoing experiential training have shown any health issues so far.

A Jeonbuk Province official said, "The local influenza screening results for all the training students showed 'no abnormalities,' and we will continue to monitor their health closely and respond thoroughly after their return."

On the last day of the Lunar New Year holiday, the 27th, the fourth confirmed case of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) was reported in South Korea. On the same day, the mask sales stand at a large supermarket in Seoul was completely empty due to being sold out. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

Goyang City in Gyeonggi Province, where the third confirmed case of Wuhan pneumonia was reported, is also making every effort to prevent further spread.

On the 27th, Goyang City held a disaster countermeasure meeting chaired by Mayor Lee Jae-jun, deciding to thoroughly manage citizens who had contact with the third confirmed patient and mobilize all resources to prevent and contain the novel coronavirus. The third confirmed patient was identified to have visited restaurants and other places within Goyang City.

A professor from the National Cancer Center, who participated in overcoming the MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak, attended the meeting to advise on Goyang City's infectious disease prevention measures.

Goyang City secured 200,000 masks, 2,000 hand sanitizers, 200 thermometers, 650 protective suits, 500 goggles, and 150 triple containers using 200 million won from the contingency fund.

Additionally, masks and hand sanitizers were distributed to bus terminals and daycare centers preparing to reopen on the 28th, and senior welfare centers and senior citizen centers decided to close for 4 to 5 days.

Earlier, Goyang City, together with the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, completed disinfection of restaurants and cafes visited by the third confirmed patient.

However, the city did not disclose the names of the restaurants or how many of the 74 contacts were Goyang residents.

Due to the non-disclosure policy, online cafes in the Goyang and Ilsan areas have been flooded with demands to reveal the restaurant names and concerns about the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Goyang City plans to take legal action against fake news such as "a suspected patient collapsed and was transported from a large shopping mall" and "the patient roamed around Ilsan 3-dong area for two days."

On the last day of the Lunar New Year holiday, the 27th, the fourth confirmed case of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) was reported in South Korea. On the same day, the mask sales stand at a large supermarket in Seoul was completely empty due to being sold out. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

Nearby local governments close to Goyang City are also operating 24-hour quarantine systems and focusing all efforts on blocking the novel coronavirus.

As concerns over the spread grew with the fourth confirmed case reported in Pyeongtaek, the government activated the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters and raised the infectious disease crisis alert level from 'caution' to 'warning.'

In Uijeongbu, Deputy Mayor Hwang Beom-soon personally visited the Gyeonggi Medical Center Uijeongbu Hospital, designated as a screening clinic, to inspect facilities, equipment, and personnel.

Yangju City formed a rapid response team to detect novel coronavirus symptoms early and is operating screening clinics at the public health center and Yangju Yes Hospital.

Paju City and Gimpo City also activated response systems and placed hand sanitizers in public transportation and multi-use facilities.

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