Busan City Rolls Up Sleeves for 'Prevention of Novel Coronavirus Infection'

Disaster Management Fund Invests 300 Million to Prevent Virus Outbreak

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Yoseop] As the fourth confirmed case of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) has occurred in Korea, the infectious disease crisis level has been raised to the ‘alert’ level, prompting Busan City to actively take measures to prevent the infection.

On the 29th, Busan City announced that it would strengthen quarantine measures targeting places with concerns of infection spread and disaster-vulnerable groups by using disaster management funds.

With the infectious disease crisis level elevated to the ‘alert’ level, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety has reinforced and operated the Situation Management Team as a Countermeasure Support Headquarters. Accordingly, Busan City also formed a Countermeasure Support Headquarters within the disaster department, separate from the Emergency Quarantine Countermeasure Team centered on the health department. The Novel Coronavirus Countermeasure Support Headquarters will conduct 24-hour situation management and administrative support to prevent the spread of the virus.

The Countermeasure Support Headquarters judged that the transmissibility of the novel coronavirus is lower than that of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) but higher than that of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and decided to invest about 300 million won of disaster management funds to block transmission.

Busan City plans to purchase masks, hand sanitizers, and other supplies to support disaster-vulnerable groups such as the homeless, disabled, and elderly, as well as transportation means including buses and taxis.

On the 28th, Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don also instructed a full-scale response to the novel coronavirus at an emergency countermeasure meeting attended by all heads of departments and bureaus of Busan City, as well as medical institution officials including the director of Busan National University Hospital and the director of Busan Medical Center.

Lee Sang-tae, head of Busan City’s Disaster Response Division, said, “Although no confirmed cases have yet occurred in Busan City, given the global spread trend of the novel coronavirus infection, we will spare no administrative or financial support to prevent its spread through proactive measures.”

Precautionary measures to prevent novel coronavirus infection. (Photo by Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency)

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