Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok Urges Prompt Diagnostic Testing When Suspicious Symptoms Appear

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeonnam Province, urged that rapid diagnostic testing should be conducted if any suspicious symptoms appear.

According to Jeonnam Province on the 13th, following the occurrence of 3 locally infected cases in the province on the afternoon of the 12th, 7 additional cases were confirmed on the 13th: 5 in Gwangyang, 1 in Suncheon, and 1 in Naju.

As a result, the total number of confirmed cases in Jeonnam reached 223 (176 local infections and 47 imported cases). Since the 7th, a total of 31 infections have occurred in the eastern region of Jeonnam and Hwasun area.

The confirmed case number 217 in Jeonnam, diagnosed in Gwangyang on this day, tested positive after contact with case number 197, a workplace colleague. Cases 218 and 219 are children of confirmed cases 208 and 210, respectively.

Cases 220 and 221 were confirmed through contact with cases 202 and 203 at a shopping mall in Gwangyang, and case 223 was confirmed after contact with case 213.

Case 222, residing in Naju, tested positive during self-quarantine after contact with case 517 in Gwangju, a workplace colleague.

Case 214, confirmed late afternoon on the 12th, is a child of case 211, and case 215 is the spouse of case 212. Case 216 is the child of case 209.

Recent local infections have unclear transmission routes, and with workplace colleagues consecutively testing positive, the risk of secondary infection among family members is increasing. Additionally, as winter approaches, increased indoor activities and insufficient ventilation raise concerns about further spread.

Accordingly, to swiftly block the spread of local infections, Gwangyang City raised social distancing to level 1.5 starting from 12 noon on the 13th, following Suncheon City. Yeosu City is considering raising the level based on the situation.

Governor Kim issued a special directive requesting cooperation from Suncheon and Gwangyang to allow febrile patients visiting medical institutions such as hospitals and pharmacies to receive diagnostic tests at public health centers. Both regions sent out disaster alert messages guiding diagnostic testing simultaneously.

In addition, the Honam Response Center of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and the Eastern Region Epidemiological Investigation Joint Cooperation Team formed by Jeollanam-do are conducting intensive in-depth epidemiological investigations to identify additional contacts.

Since the previous day, the Director of the Provincial Health and Welfare Bureau has been directly commanding on-site, and 20 specimen collection personnel and basic epidemiological investigators from the province and five counties?Gokseong, Gurye, Yeonggwang, Jangseong, and Jindo?have been urgently dispatched to support the screening clinic in Gwangyang.

Governor Kim of Jeonnam emphasized, “If you have suspicious symptoms, you must get a diagnostic test at a public health center,” adding, “This is a time when the interest and cooperation of residents are more crucial than ever. It is essential to follow personal quarantine rules such as refraining from visiting affected areas, avoiding outings and gatherings, and always wearing a mask.”

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