Transition Team Promotes Establishment of Infectious Disease Specialized Hospital to Prepare for COVID-19 Resurgence

Hong Kyung-hee, Deputy Spokesperson of the Presidential Transition Committee, is giving a briefing on current issues related to the 'COVID-19 Emergency Response Special Committee Compensation Plan' at the Transition Committee press conference hall in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 21st.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] The Presidential Transition Committee (Transition Committee) announced on the 22nd that it is promoting a plan to establish a state-of-the-art infectious disease specialized hospital in preparation for a possible resurgence of COVID-19 due to another variant.

On the same day, Hong Kyung-hee, deputy spokesperson of the Transition Committee, said at a press conference in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, "There was a consensus that a state-of-the-art infectious disease specialized hospital equipped with infectious disease experts, treatment agents, and vaccine clinical facilities is necessary to respond to the global pandemic at the national level." The COVID-19 Emergency Response Special Committee (COVID Special Committee) discussed a plan to promptly build a world-class central infectious disease specialized hospital with more than 150 negative pressure beds at the 10th meeting of the health and medical subcommittee held the day before.

The COVID Special Committee also discussed establishing a fund to respond to infectious disease crises in preparation for a resurgence of COVID-19 or the spread of new infectious diseases. Since establishing the fund involves a large-scale budget, it will be concretized after future consultations with financial authorities.

The COVID Special Committee also reached a consensus on the need to readjust the roles and functions of many committees currently established under the government and to reconsider whether they should continue operating. The COVID Special Committee plans to assess the status of infectious disease committees established under the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and the Ministry of Health and Welfare to establish efficient governance.

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