Jeonnam Province Takes Proactive Measures Against COVID-19 Resurgence

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] Jeonnam Province recently decided to strengthen quarantine measures at multi-use facilities frequented by many people while raising public awareness of personal quarantine rules due to the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases in the province.

On the 14th, Jeonnam Province held an emergency quarantine inspection meeting with safety department heads from 22 cities and counties to discuss proactive response measures to prevent on-site spread through the implementation of core quarantine rules.

This meeting was held following the government’s announcement that COVID-19 has shifted back to a spreading phase due to the spread of the highly contagious Omicron subvariant BA.5, increased summer travel, and decreased immunity, prompting Governor Kim Young-rok to order the habitual practice of quarantine rules and strengthening of proactive responses.

Amid the nationwide increase in confirmed cases, Jeonnam Province recorded a total of 3,987 cases in the past week, averaging 570 cases per day. The infection reproduction number has also exceeded 1, raising serious concerns about a sixth large-scale outbreak.

Accordingly, Jeonnam Province plans to vigorously promote the five major personal quarantine rules: correct mask-wearing, vaccination (third dose for unvaccinated, fourth dose for those over 60), washing hands with soap for 30 seconds, prompt medical consultation and minimizing contact with others when showing COVID-19 symptoms, and ventilating rooms at least three times a day.

To proactively block the spread, the province will not only conduct comprehensive publicity on personal quarantine but also strengthen quarantine at multi-use facilities such as vulnerable infection facilities, leisure facilities, and entertainment venues ahead of the peak summer vacation season.

Measures against the recent heatwave and drought, which have been severe, were also discussed. Jeonnam Province and cities/counties will check on-site response situations such as operating heat shelters, managing vulnerable groups, and emergency duty, and actively promote surveillance activities and public action guidelines to prevent large-scale disaster damage from typhoons and heavy rains.

Kim Shin-nam, Director of the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Public Safety, said, “Since the social distancing measures were lifted in April, the number of confirmed cases has been increasing daily, so we must prepare for a resurgence,” and urged, “Residents should also remain vigilant and strictly follow personal quarantine rules.”

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