Kwon Deok-cheol "COVID-19 Spreading Regardless of Time and Place in Homes and Workplaces During Year-End and New Year"

First Chaired Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Meeting... "Heavy Responsibility in a Grave Time"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] Kwon Deok-cheol, the first deputy head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH), announced on the 26th that the third wave of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in South Korea is "spreading indiscriminately at homes and workplaces during the year-end and New Year holidays."

In his opening remarks at the CDSCH meeting, which he presided over for the first time since assuming office as Minister of Health and Welfare, Deputy Head Kwon said, "Cluster infections continue in detention centers, nursing hospitals and nursing facilities, churches, and transmission through small gatherings with friends and acquaintances is also ongoing."

He added, "More than 1,000 patients were identified early through temporary screening clinics in the metropolitan area, and as the hospital bed situation has improved, the number of patients waiting for treatment has decreased," but noted, "the number of new confirmed cases remains around 1,000 per day without a declining trend."

Deputy Head Kwon emphasized, "At this critical juncture of the third wave, curbing the spread depends on how we spend this year-end and New Year period."

He said, "For our parents, families, and neighbors to welcome a healthy new year, a 'united momentary pause' from all citizens is urgently needed," and urged, "I ask for the active cooperation and participation of all citizens so that the special year-end and New Year measures scheduled until January 3 next year can achieve their intended results."

Furthermore, he stated, "I feel a heavy responsibility in taking on this important role during the severe period of the COVID-19 third wave," and pledged, "As the first deputy head of the CDSCH, I will devote all my efforts to protecting the health of the people and restoring the economy and daily life."

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