Prime Minister Jeong: "The Next Two Weeks Are a Decisive Period to Achieve a Definitive Stabilization of COVID-19"

3-Day COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Meeting
"We Must Definitely Suppress the COVID-19 Momentum This Month"

Prime Minister Jeong Sye-gyun. / Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun emphasized on the 3rd that "the next two weeks are a critical period to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and achieve a definite stabilization."

At the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting held at the Government Seoul Office on the same day, Prime Minister Chung said, "Thanks to the participation of many citizens in the special year-end and New Year quarantine reinforcement measures, the quarantine indicators are gradually improving."

He stated, "As of midnight today, the number of confirmed cases dropped to the 600s, marking the lowest point in 23 days," and added, "The number of immediately available intensive care unit beds has increased to about 200, and the number of patients waiting more than a day in the metropolitan area has decreased to 10, showing a significant recovery in the healthcare system's capacity."

He continued, "I believe the next two weeks are a decisive period to achieve a definite stabilization," and informed, "The government will extend the social distancing level for two more weeks, including key measures of the special year-end and New Year measures such as the ban on gatherings of five or more people, and some quarantine rules have been effectively supplemented."

He also said, "The temporary screening clinics in the metropolitan area, whose effectiveness has been confirmed, will be extended for two more weeks," and added, "At today's CDSCH meeting, we will discuss and immediately implement strengthened quarantine measures for nursing hospitals, where recent group infections have been frequent."

Prime Minister Chung emphasized, "We must firmly suppress the momentum of COVID-19 this month and, starting next month, leverage the power of therapeutics and vaccines to lay the foundation for early overcoming of COVID-19."

He said, "As you have done well so far, I ask the citizens to endure just a little longer and take the lead in 'participatory quarantine.'"

He added, "The fight against COVID-19, which has become more transmissible with the onset of winter, is ultimately a race against time," and said, "The government will do its utmost with a steadfast attitude like an ox to regain the precious daily lives of the people as soon as possible and stay one step ahead in the fight against COVID-19."

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