Daejeon City Issues 'Administrative Order' for Diagnostic Testing of Participants in Gwanghwamun Rally

Daejeon Mayor Heo Tae-jung issued an administrative order on the 17th requiring Daejeon citizens who visited the Gwanghwamun rally and Sarang Jeil Church to undergo mandatory COVID-19 testing. Provided by Daejeon City

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The Daejeon city government has issued an administrative order requiring citizens who attended recent gatherings held in the Seoul metropolitan area to undergo mandatory testing for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

According to the city on the 18th, Mayor Heo Tae-jung stated in a briefing held the previous day, “Citizens who visited the gathering near Gyeongbokgung Palace on the 8th, the Gwanghwamun Liberation Day rally on the 15th, or the Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, between the 7th and 13th must undergo COVID-19 testing at the nearest public health center screening clinic,” issuing an administrative order.

He also emphasized, “If this is not complied with, strong penalties including prosecution will be enforced, and if necessary, claims for damages will be pursued.”

This administrative order is a measure in response to the recent resurgence of COVID-19 centered in the Seoul metropolitan area.

Regarding this, Mayor Heo said, “The most important thing in the current situation is to reduce contact between residents of different regions to block further spread of COVID-19,” and urged, “Citizens are asked to minimize contact with residents from other regions as much as possible.”

In particular, Mayor Heo stressed, “The recent trend of confirmed cases starting in the Seoul metropolitan area is progressing at a speed several times faster than the quarantine authorities’ response,” and added, “To calm this situation, active participation and cooperation from citizens are absolutely necessary.”

The city will also strengthen its own quarantine activities. First, it will discourage small group meetings at religious facilities and visits to prayer houses in other regions, manage multi-level marketing visits, and in principle prohibit performances and events with more than 100 people indoors or 200 people outdoors as part of enhanced quarantine measures.

Additionally, during the implementation period of social distancing level 2 in Seoul and Gyeonggi areas, the city plans to request that local professional sports games be held without spectators and will strengthen inspections of 13 types of high-risk facilities such as PC rooms and social welfare facilities.

Mayor Heo said, “Considering the spread trend in the metropolitan area, Daejeon is also in a very serious situation,” and added, “Since infection due to contact with confirmed cases from the metropolitan area and other regions is a concern, we will prepare enhanced quarantine measures focusing on high-risk and multi-use facilities and take proactive steps.”

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