Park Neung-hoo "COVID-19 Patients Below 1,000... Stable Operation of Medical System" (Update)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] Park Neung-hoo, the 1st Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Minister of Health and Welfare), said on the 15th, "The number of patients receiving treatment for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has dropped below 1,000," adding, "This means that the COVID-19 treatment system has entered a stage of more stable operation."

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, the number of patients isolated and receiving treatment in the country was 969 as of midnight the previous day, falling below 1,000 for the first time since February 26. Before presiding over the Disaster and Safety Headquarters meeting that day, Deputy Head Park said, "1,000 patients is a level that our medical system can handle without significant burden." He added, "Although the sense of crisis is heightened due to the Itaewon club cluster infection, if we thoroughly follow daily quarantine rules such as handwashing and wearing masks and report immediately when suspicious, we can ultimately win in the long term."

At the meeting, discussions were held regarding management measures for high-risk group facilities related to COVID-19, such as nursing hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, and nursing facilities. Since the elderly have a high fatality rate when infected with COVID-19, thorough measures are being taken to prevent the introduction of infection sources, including diagnostic testing for workers at these facilities and newly admitted patients. Additionally, quarantine management measures for the Grade 5 Public Service Examination scheduled for the 16th were reviewed.

Deputy Head Park said, "Since the Grade 5 Public Service Examination and Foreign Service Officer Candidate Selection Examination to be held tomorrow are the first exams held after raising the crisis alert to the severe level, we will thoroughly check quarantine management measures such as the voluntary reporting system and examinee behavior guidelines."

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