On the 23rd, a post was uploaded on the Blue House National Petition Board requesting a ban on the entry of Chinese nationals during the Lunar New Year holiday. / Photo by Blue House National Petition Board capture
[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lim Juhyung] As the number of deaths and confirmed cases from the novel coronavirus, so-called 'Wuhan pneumonia,' continues to rise, a petition on the Blue House website requesting a ban on the entry of Chinese nationals has received more than 200,000 signatures.
Previously, a post titled "Request to Ban Entry of Chinese Nationals" was uploaded on the Blue House petition board on the 23rd, and as of 8 a.m. on the 26th, it had received over 210,000 signatures. Surpassing 200,000 signatures meets the requirement for an official response from the Blue House.
In the post, the petitioner stated, "The coronavirus originating from China is spreading," and "Even North Korea has banned the entry of Chinese nationals, so I request a temporary ban on the entry of Chinese nationals at least during the Lunar New Year holiday."
They added, "It will be too late once Wuhan pneumonia has landed in our country," emphasizing that "proactive measures are necessary."
Jung Eun-kyung, Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (center), and other officials involved in the interim announcement regarding the second confirmed case of the novel coronavirus infection, known as "Wuhan pneumonia," are seen conversing in front of the briefing room of the Ministry of Health and Welfare at the Government Complex Sejong in Sejong City on the afternoon of the 24th. / Photo by Yonhap News
The government is also strengthening its response to Wuhan pneumonia. On the 25th, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expanded the surveillance target contamination area from Wuhan City to the entire Chinese mainland to accurately identify suspected Wuhan pneumonia patients from the engineering quarantine stage.
From now on, all travelers coming from China must submit a health status questionnaire.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also raised the travel alert level for the entire Hubei Province, including Wuhan City, from Level 2 (Travel Caution) to Level 3 (Travel Recommendation to Evacuate) on the same day.
Meanwhile, the National Health Commission of China announced that as of the 26th, 42 people have died from Wuhan pneumonia, and 1,409 people have been infected.
The spread of Wuhan pneumonia is also occurring outside of China. Confirmed cases have been reported in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, and the United States.
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