Chairman Jeong Gi-seok, "If we get through this winter well, COVID-19 will be a different world from next year"

Even if the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency issues flu warnings every year and people ignore them,
a thorough preparedness posture must be maintained without social stoppage.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Jeong Gi-seok, Chair of the National Infectious Disease Crisis Response Advisory Committee and Professor of Respiratory Medicine at Hallym University College of Medicine, said regarding the COVID-19 resurgence, "It is true that vigilance has waned over the past month or two, but if we get through this winter well, from next year we can live in a different world."

At the regular briefing of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on the 13th, Chair Jeong said, "Just as the public does not pay much attention even when the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency issues an annual flu alert, we will strive to create a similar situation for COVID-19."

This briefing was Chair Jeong’s first public speech since taking the advisory committee chair position. Jeong, who served as Director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during the Park Geun-hye administration, is also being mentioned as a strong candidate for the currently vacant Minister of Health and Welfare position.

The government’s COVID-19 resurgence response measures announced that day were finalized after gathering opinions from the advisory committee. The advisory committee, which held its first meeting on the 11th, assessed that "the COVID-19 resurgence could occur sooner than expected," and recommended "inspecting the testing system to ensure stable diagnostic testing and advising the fourth vaccination dose for those at high risk of severe illness or death."

Chair Jeong emphasized, "The government must actively work at the whole-of-government level to secure sufficient quantities of updated vaccines and effective therapeutics to prepare for the upcoming winter wave and respond to new variants," adding, "What is important now is not when or how large the next wave will be, but to establish thorough preparedness so that the public can live with peace of mind without social stoppages regardless of when or how it comes."

He further urged, "The government should establish proactive response strategies and concentrate all capabilities on inspecting the quarantine and medical systems one by one." He also advised, "To ensure that region-centered quarantine and medical systems operate efficiently, local health care resources should be reviewed, and local governments should be supported and cooperated with so they can have sufficient capacity to prepare for the resurgence in the second half of the year."

Chair Jeong stated, "All prepared systems must be meticulously checked through on-site verification and simulation drills to ensure they operate smoothly in real situations, and continuous improvements must be made," adding, "The advisory committee will watch closely with keen eyes to ensure the government implements evidence-based policies."

He concluded, "This time, we are not imposing social distancing or mandatory vaccinations, but the public has complied well so far. If people just refrain from unnecessary gatherings, we will work hard so that there is no need for major concern."

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