Officials Who Visited Wuhan Area to Undergo '2-Week Self-Quarantine'

On the afternoon of the 28th, people arriving from Hangzhou, China, were undergoing quarantine at the quarantine station in Terminal 1 arrival hall of Incheon International Airport. / Yeongjongdo - Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] The government has decided that public officials returning from Hubei Province, China, will undergo a 2-week 'self-quarantine' even if they show no symptoms of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia).

On the 29th, the Ministry of Personnel Management delivered the 'Public Official Work Management Guidelines to Prevent the Spread of the Novel Coronavirus' containing this information to each ministry.

According to the guidelines, even if there are no special symptoms, public officials who returned from Hubei Province, China after the 14th must self-quarantine for 14 days from the date of return, considering the incubation period. This period will be treated as 'official leave.' Official leave is a leave system granted for legitimate reasons other than sick leave.

If a family member is confirmed or quarantined due to the novel coronavirus, the public official is instructed not to go to work until the family member has fully recovered. Also, if schools or other institutions are closed due to the novel coronavirus and the official needs to take care of their children, the department head may first approve 'annual leave,' followed by official leave.

Additionally, if the official is confirmed or suspected to be quarantined due to the novel coronavirus, they must isolate and receive treatment until fully recovered, and this period will be treated as 'sick leave.'

An official from the Ministry of Personnel Management emphasized, "If infection cases occur or spread due to failure or delay in voluntary reporting, the public official involved will be strictly disciplined," and added, "Public officials returning from overseas business trips must carefully monitor for symptoms of the novel coronavirus and immediately report if suspected."

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