312 COVID-19 Cases During Chuseok Holiday... "Get Tested If You Have Fever or Cough"

"Traffic Volume Compared to Last Year: Expressways 86%, Express Buses 45%, Railways 43%"... Park Neung-hoo "Solidarity is Important"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] During the five-day Chuseok holiday (September 30 to October 4), a total of 312 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) were reported in the Seoul metropolitan area, Busan, and Gyeongbuk, among other regions.

Park Neung-hoo, the first head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH), stated in his opening remarks at the CDSCH meeting held at the Government Seoul Office on the 5th, "Considering that interregional movement and interpersonal contact increased during the Chuseok holiday compared to usual, it is difficult to let our guard down."

Head Park emphasized, "Until the 11th of this month is a special quarantine period requiring continuous practice," and urged, "Those who visited their hometowns or travel destinations should get tested at nearby screening clinics if they experience symptoms such as fever or cough."

He added, "This Chuseok holiday saw a significant decrease in usage rates compared to last year: 86% on highways (daily average basis), 45% on express buses, and 43% on railways," and expressed gratitude, saying, "Thank you to the public for postponing joyful meetings with parents and relatives and cooperating with quarantine measures."

He also extended thanks to the medical staff and quarantine officials who worked tirelessly at hospitals and screening clinics during the holiday period.

Head Park repeatedly stressed the continuous practice of social distancing. He said, "At workplaces, please always wear masks and reduce infection risk by dining with the minimum number of people," and requested, "Please postpone face-to-face events and meetings with many attendees."

He then introduced the poem "Damjaengi" (Ivy), which carries a message of solidarity and overcoming adversity. Head Park said, "When one lowers their head thinking 'That is an insurmountable wall,' a single ivy leaf leads thousands of ivy leaves to eventually overcome that wall," adding, "Let us, like the ivy, join hands and overcome the wall called COVID-19 together."

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