President Moon: "Korea's Very Exceptional Performance, Easing Quarantine Reflects Confidence in COVID Control" (Comprehensive)

Presiding over the Blue House Senior Secretary and Aide Meeting, Urging Public Cooperation on Social Distancing Easing... "Comprehensively Considering Livelihood Economy Difficulties and Public Fatigue"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] "The adjustment of social distancing measures was decided based on the situation where the daily number of COVID-19 confirmed cases is being maintained steadily, the infection reproduction number is decreasing, indicating that the spread is calming down, and there is a sufficient number of medical personnel due to the reduction of severe patients and expansion of hospital beds."

President Moon Jae-in said this on the afternoon of the 12th at the Blue House senior secretaries and aides meeting. He explained the background of deciding to ease social distancing despite concerns about the 'novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19)' and asked for the cooperation of the people. President Moon emphasized, "In particular, we comprehensively considered the difficulties of the people's livelihood economy, which have been aggravated by prolonged strengthened quarantine measures, and the fatigue of the people."

President Moon said, "We are overcoming the critical point of the Chuseok holiday, which could have been the greatest crisis, well so far. Although the daily number of confirmed cases worldwide has exceeded 350,000, setting a new record, and emergency measures are being strengthened in various countries, I can confidently say that Korea is exceptionally holding out well."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Moon credited the people for Korea's decision to ease social distancing, saying it was thanks to overcoming the crisis well so far.

President Moon stated, "Amid the global COVID-19 crisis, we have shown strong performance in both quarantine and economy, raising the national status as a 'country strong in crisis, Republic of Korea,'" and added, "This is all thanks to the people. It was possible because our people have the crisis-overcoming gene that unites and gathers strength even more in moments of crisis."

President Moon said, "The easing of quarantine measures is based on our confidence that we can keep COVID-19 under control through quarantine," and added, "I once again especially ask the people to strictly follow the maintained quarantine measures and safety rules."

However, President Moon said, "We have experienced several times that a moment of negligence can lead to uncontrollable spread, and we also know well how difficult it is to restore the situation once it worsens," and pledged, "The government will trust the people and redouble its efforts."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Furthermore, President Moon said, "What pains me the most is that many people are suffering economic hardships as COVID-19 prolongs," and added, "When I think of the people who have lost jobs or are unable to find jobs, workers in industries directly hit by COVID-19 such as travel, tourism, arts, and culture, and small business owners and self-employed people facing difficulties due to sharp sales declines, my heart feels very heavy."

President Moon said, "The government will do its best to restore economic vitality as soon as possible," and asked, "I hope that we, as subjects of quarantine, protect each other's safety in daily life living with COVID-19, which has no known end, and as economic agents, join forces to revive our economy."

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