Park Neung-hoo "Infection Minimization Possible with Masks"

Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo is speaking while presiding over the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on COVID-19 response held on the morning of the 16th at the Disaster Situation Room of the Government Seoul Office.<이미지: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 16th, "In situations where you might unknowingly come into contact with a confirmed case, a single mask protects you and your family's health and minimizes infection."

Before the meeting that day, Deputy Head Park evaluated, "Although COVID-19 cases are rapidly spreading worldwide, domestic confirmed cases have entered a stable phase," citing the reason that the majority of citizens are strictly wearing masks and maintaining social distancing, thus adhering well to quarantine guidelines.

He also introduced cases that demonstrate the effectiveness of masks during epidemiological investigations by health authorities. Deputy Head Park said, "In Gwangju, one confirmed case traveled in the same car for over an hour with three companions, but since everyone wore masks meticulously, none of the companions were infected," and added, "At a church in Suwon, three confirmed cases visited multiple times, but due to the church's strict mask policies, no additional infections occurred among the approximately 9,000 church members."

Regarding the recently ended public mask system, he expressed gratitude to various parties. Deputy Head Park said, "I thank the manufacturers and distributors who increased supply by operating factories 24 hours a day, as well as the Ministry of National Defense and local government officials who assisted in the process," and continued, "I also appreciate the pharmacists who worked tirelessly day and night on the front lines to ensure fair distribution, and the public who sacrificed masks for those in greater need when supplies were insufficient and consistently wore masks."

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