Prime Minister Jeong: "Focusing All Efforts on Blocking Additional COVID-19 Infection Cases"

Prime Minister Jeong Sye-kyun

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwangho Lee] Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said on the 16th, "After several days without any confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the 29th patient was identified this morning. The government is analyzing the situation while maintaining vigilance under a serious awareness."

Prime Minister Chung made these remarks while presiding over the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting for expanded COVID-19 response at the Government Seoul Office on the same day.

According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one additional confirmed COVID-19 case was reported at 9 a.m. that day, bringing the total number of infected individuals to 29. The 29th patient, an 82-year-old male, is currently receiving isolated treatment at Seoul National University Hospital. It has been determined that he neither visited China nor had contact with previously confirmed patients.

Prime Minister Chung emphasized, "The government will concentrate all capabilities on blocking additional infection cases that may occur in local communities and medical institutions."

He also urged, "Health authorities should strengthen community surveillance systems to detect patients early."

In particular, he requested, "Please manage facilities where vulnerable groups such as nursing hospitals reside more thoroughly," and added, "Please also prepare measures to strengthen contact management."

Ahead of the school semester, Prime Minister Chung also instructed to strengthen management of international students coming from China. The government applies special entry procedures to Chinese international students, just like other general entrants from China.

He stated, "Chinese international students will be closely managed within the government’s quarantine network through special entry procedures, just like general entrants," and added, "They will be managed under a cooperative system among universities, local governments, and quarantine authorities for 14 days."

He continued, "Please prepare remote learning environments at each university so that international students can study locally without entering the country," and said, "Foreign university students are also our students, so I ask for inclusiveness to prevent any hatred."

Furthermore, he instructed, "Please thoroughly check the welfare delivery system to ensure that free meals and medical services for elderly residents in jjokbangchon (small-room villages) are maintained without reduction."

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