Cluster Infections in Nursing Hospitals Decrease from 15 to 4 in Two Months... "Efforts to Achieve Herd Immunity"

As of midnight today, over 23,000 people have been vaccinated

Minister of Health and Welfare Kwon Deok-cheol is attending the 'Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters Meeting for COVID-19 Response' held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 17th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] It has been revealed that through the government's proactive COVID-19 testing of nursing hospital workers, cluster infections within nursing facilities have decreased to less than one-third over two months.

On the 28th, Kwon Deok-cheol, the first head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH), stated in his opening remarks at the CDSCH meeting, "We have implemented many measures, including proactive testing of workers, to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in high-risk facilities such as nursing hospitals and facilities," adding, "As a result, cluster infection cases in nursing hospitals decreased from 15 locations in December last year to 9 in January this year, and then to 4 in February."

Head Kwon said, "Starting from the 26th, we began vaccinating workers at nursing hospitals and facilities," and added, "We will continue to identify blind spots in quarantine measures along with special management of caregivers to prevent cluster infections in nursing hospitals and facilities."

Regarding the COVID-19 vaccination status, he said, "As of midnight today, the number of vaccinated individuals is just over 20,300, and the process is proceeding smoothly as planned," adding, "We will do our utmost to ensure safe vaccinations according to schedule so that herd immunity can be achieved by November as targeted."

Head Kwon continued, "The season is moving from winter toward spring, and now a ray of light called vaccination is shining upon us," urging, "Please continue to actively participate in vaccinations so that we can safely reach the destination called 'return to daily life' by following this light."

He also urged strict adherence to basic quarantine rules. He said, "Although the 'long journey' toward herd immunity through vaccination has begun, the current quarantine situation before us remains unstable," and repeatedly requested compliance with quarantine rules such as wearing masks and washing hands. He added, "We must never forget the fact that in several countries, right after vaccinations began, the number of confirmed cases increased, possibly due to a relaxation in vigilance regarding quarantine."

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