Prime Minister Kim: "Non-metropolitan areas must also stay alert... Confirmed cases exceed 25%"

COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Meeting

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum is presiding over the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting on COVID-19 response held at the Government Seoul Office on the 11th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Son Seon-hee] Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said on the 11th, "The proportion of confirmed cases outside the metropolitan area reached 25% today," and urged, "Regions outside the metropolitan area must not let their guard down."

On the same day, Prime Minister Kim presided over the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting at the Government Seoul Office and said, "Especially, the number of patients is increasing in the Chungcheong region near the metropolitan area." He added, "Local government heads should take responsibility and take proactive measures to block the spread at an early stage with a quicker response."

From the 12th, the highest level of social distancing, Level 4, will be applied in the metropolitan area for two weeks. Prime Minister Kim emphasized, "Mild cases are rapidly increasing in the metropolitan area," and stressed, "It is urgent to quickly expand residential treatment centers." He also urged, "Local governments should devote all efforts to securing facilities and preparing for operation, and all ministries should cooperate as much as possible to immediately utilize available facilities such as affiliated training centers."

He also said, "Supporting personnel to handle the rapidly increasing epidemiological investigations and diagnostic test demands by local governments is a major task," and ordered, "The government must deploy all available personnel to the maximum extent. Considering the situation in the metropolitan area, the police, military, and related ministries should provide necessary personnel support promptly."

Prime Minister Kim said, "From tomorrow, vaccine reservations for citizens aged 55 to 59 will begin," and requested, "The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and local governments should thoroughly review the entire process including reservation, administration, and adverse reaction management to ensure vaccination can proceed quickly from the initial stage."

He reiterated, "To ensure that the public's cooperation and participation are not in vain, the government must quickly curb the spread of COVID-19," and urged, "All ministries and local governments must respond in a coordinated manner, thinking of themselves as one body."

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