WHO: "Korea Has Established COVID-19 Response System" Amid Itaewon Club Cluster Infection (Update)

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus [EPA=Yonhap News file photo]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seunggon Han] The World Health Organization (WHO) recently evaluated that although the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has increased again in some countries including South Korea, these countries have established systems to respond.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, pointed out during a virtual press briefing held at the WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, on the 11th (local time), "One confirmed case was reported in South Korea, leading to extensive contact tracing, and bars and clubs were closed."

He continued, "In Wuhan, China, the first cluster infection was confirmed after the lockdown was lifted, and Germany has also reported an increase in confirmed cases following the easing of restrictions."

However, he emphasized the importance of slowly and steadily lifting lockdown measures related to the spread of COVID-19, stating, "Fortunately, all three countries have systems in place to detect and respond to the recurrence of confirmed cases."

Michael Ryan, WHO Executive Director for Emergency Preparedness and Response, who attended the briefing, urged that even if strong public health measures such as lockdowns are eased, social distancing and other measures must continue, and extreme vigilance should not be relaxed.

He added, "We hope and believe that Germany and South Korea will be able to reduce the current cluster infections."

Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO Head of the Emerging Diseases Unit, also urged, "What we can say to these countries (including South Korea) is to hold firm, not to relax, and to continue what they are doing now for COVID-19 prevention."

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