Chungnam Holds Emergency Meeting on 'Novel Coronavirus'...Infection Control Task Force Operation and Response

Chungnam Province held a meeting of department heads on the 28th to discuss measures to respond to the novel coronavirus infection. Kim Yong-chan (second from the right), the Deputy Governor for Administration, is presiding over the meeting. Photo by Chungnam Province

[Asia Economy (Naepo) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Chungnam Province held an emergency countermeasure meeting to seek response measures amid signs of the spread of the novel coronavirus (Wuhan pneumonia).

On the 28th, the province discussed response measures to the novel coronavirus infection at the meeting of department heads, presided over by Vice Governor Kim Yong-chan.

First, Vice Governor Kim said, "Since the first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus occurred in Korea on the 19th, a total of four confirmed cases have been reported, and it has been confirmed that 14 people in Chungnam entered the country on the same flights as these confirmed patients."

He added, "I believe the top priority is for the province to take the lead in cooperation with the government and public sectors to resolve public confusion and anxiety," urging active response to the novel coronavirus centered on the quarantine countermeasure team.

Earlier, since the 17th, Chungnam has formed a 'Novel Coronavirus Infection Countermeasure Team' to respond. The countermeasure team consists of 27 members divided into five teams: General, Epidemiological Investigation, Medical Resource Management, Diagnosis Management, and Contact Management. They maintain a 24-hour emergency contact system until the infectious disease crisis alert level is lowered to 'interest' and are prepared to respond immediately when a situation arises.

Within the countermeasure team, the General team is responsible for patient management and regional response measures, while the Epidemiological Investigation team handles epidemiological investigations, outbreak monitoring, patient case investigations, and measures.

Additionally, the countermeasure team monitors domestic and international infectious disease outbreak information and simultaneously provides guidance on infection prevention to travelers from overseas infectious disease-contaminated areas.

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