Prime Minister Jeong: "This Week is Critical... Firm Legal Action if Quarantine Rules Are Not Followed"

Prime Minister Jeong Sye-kyun

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwangho Lee] Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun stated on the 7th, "As the final phase of in-person classes begins tomorrow, the upcoming week will be a critical moment for COVID-19 prevention efforts in the Seoul metropolitan area," adding, "The government and local governments will mobilize all their capabilities and resources to respond."

On the same day, Prime Minister Chung chaired the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting on COVID-19 response held at the Government Seoul Office, saying, "The spread of cluster infections continues in the metropolitan area, including small religious gatherings and neighborhood table tennis halls."

He emphasized, "Each local government must intensively inspect small gatherings and take firm legal action against those who do not comply with quarantine rules," adding, "If necessary, the central government will also step in."

He also urged thorough quarantine preparations, noting, "On the 13th, the local government official recruitment exam, with 240,000 applicants, will be conducted nationwide."

Referring to the case in Cheonan where an elementary school student was confined in a travel bag for seven hours by a stepmother and died, Prime Minister Chung pointed out, "The risk of child abuse is increasing as time spent at home due to COVID-19 rises."

He then ordered, "The Ministry of Health and Welfare should closely examine this incident," and added, "Since child abuse investigation duties will be transferred from the private sector to local governments starting in October, each local government must also prepare thoroughly."

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