President Moon: "Only Solidarity and Cooperation Can Overcome COVID-19"

Visit to Chungnam Daegu 1 Living Treatment Center, Encouraging Medical Staff... "If Short, We Will Support by Any Means"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] On the afternoon of the 12th, President Moon Jae-in visited the 'Chungnam Daegu1 Residential Treatment Center' at the Ujeong Public Officials Training Institute in Cheonan, Chungnam, established to respond to the 'Novel Coronavirus Infection (COVID-19),' and said, "Only solidarity and cooperation can overcome COVID-19."

The Chungnam Daegu1 Residential Treatment Center is the largest among the nationally designated residential treatment centers. Currently, it accommodates 308 mild confirmed patients from the Daegu area in facilities provided by Chungcheongnam-do.

Kang Min-seok, the Blue House spokesperson, explained, "This is a representative case of cooperation and solidarity among local governments," adding, "As the residential treatment center accepts mild confirmed patients, it has become easier to treat severe patients in hospitals with negative pressure rooms."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Moon listened to concerns about the medical staff's lodging conditions. He said, "(To government officials including Minister of the Interior and Safety Jin Young) The most important thing is for medical staff to care for patients, so please ensure there are no inconveniences in their daily lives."

In particular, President Moon said, "(To medical staff, military support personnel, and government officials) Is there anything lacking? Please honestly say if something is insufficient. (Laughter) We will support you by any means necessary." He also urged, "The joint support team from Cheonan City and the central government is here, and communication is important. If the medical staff need anything, please do your best to support them on site."

When President Moon asked about the local residents' reactions to Daegu citizens receiving treatment in Cheonan, Chungnam Governor Yang Seung-jo replied, "(Cheonan citizens) have the same heart as when they welcomed the Wuhan evacuees in Asan with banners."

Professor Kim Ho-jung of Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine said, "There is one difficulty. The residential treatment center is thought of as a lodging for asymptomatic individuals (like the Wuhan evacuees), but I hope it can be designated as a clinic-level hospital where prescriptions can be made."

President Moon responded, "In fact, this is different from the quarantine of Wuhan evacuees. We will support it so that it can function as a hospital. Since the residential treatment center is a new system, please let us know any shortcomings as they arise during actual operation, and we will resolve them."

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