Lunar New Year Holiday as a Turning Point... Pohang City Holds Meeting to Transition Omicron Response System

Pohang City Hall, Gyeongbuk.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] Pohang City, Gyeongbuk, held a public-private cooperation strengthening medical institution meeting on the 12th to prepare for the increase in Omicron variant virus confirmed cases and to transition the quarantine management system and medical response system.

The meeting was attended by Mayor Lee Gang-deok of Pohang, Kang Jae-myung, head of the Infectious Disease Response Headquarters, Lee Gwan, director of the Gyeongsangbuk-do Infectious Disease Management Support Group, heads of major local hospitals, and representatives from the Medical Association, Nursing Association, Pharmaceutical Association, and the Association of Nursing Hospital Directors.

Although it has been reported that overall quarantine indicators have clearly improved for three consecutive weeks due to the government's strengthened quarantine measures and increased vaccination rates, Pohang City expects the Omicron variant virus to become the dominant strain domestically in January and February. The Lunar New Year holiday was seen as a critical turning point.

The city decided to increase vaccination rates and expand hospital beds to prevent confirmed and critically ill patients. They also agreed on the need to secure capabilities to respond to the variant virus, such as expanding participation of private medical institutions in screening clinics and transitioning to a home treatment-centered response system.

Mayor Lee Gang-deok said, "Over the past two years, we have overcome many crises well through the active participation of local medical institutions and medical staff," and added, "I hope you will also participate in screening tests and the designation and operation of home treatment management medical institutions to jointly respond to blocking the COVID-19 pandemic."

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