Prime Minister Kim: "Vacation Return Season, Critical Turning Point... Preemptive Testing and Work-from-Home Recommended"

COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Meeting

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum is speaking while presiding over the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting on COVID-19 response held at the Government Seoul Office Building on the 17th. August 17, 2021.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Son Seon-hee] Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said on the 17th, "Citizens returning from vacation must undergo diagnostic testing regardless of symptoms before returning to work," and added, "We request that each workplace expand the implementation of remote work."

On the morning of the same day, Prime Minister Kim chaired the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting at the Government Seoul Office and said, "Many experts point out that the period from now, as people return to their daily lives after vacation, could be a critical turning point in the fourth wave of infections." He also urged, "Please review once again whether there are any infection vulnerabilities inside and outside the workplace, and if dense work is unavoidable, actively conduct preemptive diagnostic testing."

He further ordered, "The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and relevant local governments should jointly consider installing additional testing sites at locations with frequent citizen movement such as train stations and terminals."

Prime Minister Kim stated, "There is a significant gap in hospital bed capacity by region," and urged, "Each local government should promptly open the residential treatment centers they are preparing and also review additional plans for expanding hospital beds in advance."

Meanwhile, regarding the recent outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) at a farm in Gangwon Province, he said, "The situation is serious as cases of wild boar infections are increasing in Gangwon Province and the virus has been detected around farms, raising concerns about further spread." He added, "The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Environment, together with local governments, should carefully review the current quarantine situation once again and do their utmost to prevent any further spread."

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