Cause of 'Wuhan Pneumonia', Discomfort Over Treatment Burden on Chinese Patients
Treatment According to Infection Prevention Measures...Reason for 'Early Containment of Spread'
Same Applies to Major Countries Worldwide
200,000 Petition Urging Ban on Chinese Entry
Pneumonia Spreading Globally Including US, Japan, France, Australia
On the 24th, when the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced the confirmation of the country's second patient infected with the novel coronavirus, passengers wearing masks were moving at Gimpo Airport. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] As the number of deaths and confirmed cases due to the novel coronavirus (Wuhan pneumonia) continues to surge in China, causing growing anxiety among domestic citizens, the treatment costs for a Chinese woman who was diagnosed with Wuhan pneumonia after entering through Incheon Airport on the 20th and hospitalized in a government-designated negative pressure isolation room will be covered by the South Korean government.
This is a measure taken in accordance with Article 41, Paragraph 1 of the "Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act," which supports the treatment costs of patients who are forcibly hospitalized to prevent the spread of infectious diseases to others.
Early containment of infectious disease spread can significantly reduce socio-economic costs. Major countries around the world are taking similar measures, which also reflect a kind of humanitarian consideration.
The issue lies in public opinion surrounding this. While the responsibility for the outbreak of "Wuhan pneumonia" lies with the Chinese, there are criticisms that it is difficult to understand from the public sentiment that South Korea bears the treatment costs based on current laws.
A man in his mid-30s, office worker A, said, "If the law says so, it cannot be helped, but it is frustrating," adding, "There should be some measures; please stop the spread of infection at its source quickly."
Another office worker in his 40s, B, said, "I am not pointing fingers at the Chinese who contracted pneumonia," but also expressed frustration, saying, "I want to ask what the Chinese government has been doing until the situation escalated like this."
◆ "Block Chinese Entry" Blue House Petition Reaches 200,000
Meanwhile, a Blue House petition requesting a ban on Chinese entry had garnered 200,000 signatures as of 8:30 a.m. on the 26th.
The petition was posted on the 23rd and surpassed the 200,000 signatures required for a Blue House response within three days. As of 9 a.m., 213,362 people had joined the petition.
The petitioner appealed, "The coronavirus originating from China is spreading, and even North Korea has banned Chinese entry. I request a temporary entry ban during the Lunar New Year holiday... Won't it be too late after it lands in our country? Proactive measures are necessary."
On the afternoon of the 23rd, employees of the National Quarantine Station under the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency are measuring passengers' temperatures with thermal imaging cameras at the arrival hall of Terminal 1, Incheon International Airport. [Image source=Yonhap News]
◆ 'Wuhan Pneumonia' Spreads Worldwide Including the U.S., Japan, Australia, and Russia
'Wuhan pneumonia' is currently spreading worldwide. The United States reported its second confirmed pneumonia case, and the first confirmed cases were found in France and Australia. In Japan, additional confirmed cases have been identified, causing global fear.
On the 24th (local time), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that a woman in her 60s residing in Chicago, who recently visited Wuhan, China, was confirmed to have Wuhan pneumonia.
The woman is currently receiving treatment in an isolation ward. This is the second confirmed case following the first confirmed patient on the 21st.
Japan reported its third confirmed case. On the 25th, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced that a Chinese woman in her 30s, who came to Japan from Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, was confirmed to be infected with the novel coronavirus.
The first confirmed case was a Chinese resident in Japan who had recently visited Wuhan. The second and third confirmed cases were Chinese tourists from Wuhan.
Given the situation, according to local media such as NHK, more Japanese companies are issuing business trip bans to the entire Hubei Province, including Wuhan City.
As deaths from the novel coronavirus 'Wuhan pneumonia' rapidly increase in China, passengers wearing masks are going through check-in at Incheon International Airport on the 23rd. [Image source=Yonhap News]
The French Ministry of Health announced that three people, including a man who recently traveled to China, were confirmed to have Wuhan pneumonia. Most European countries reportedly find it difficult to control their borders, making quarantine efforts more challenging.
Agnes Buzyn, French Minister of Health, said in interviews with media outlets including the Associated Press, "It is impossible to check every person entering France via other European countries. Controlling borders is practically impossible."
Australian health authorities confirmed that a Chinese man in his 50s residing in Victoria contracted the novel coronavirus. The man, currently receiving isolation treatment, arrived in Melbourne, Australia, on the 19th after flying from Guangzhou, China.
The Malaysian Ministry of Health announced on the night of the 25th that one more person was infected with Wuhan pneumonia, bringing the total confirmed cases in Malaysia to four.
In Nepal, a 32-year-old student returning from Wuhan was confirmed to be infected with the novel coronavirus. In Russia, there was even a solo protest demanding the closure of the border with China.
As deaths from the novel coronavirus 'Wuhan pneumonia' rapidly increase in China, passengers wearing masks are walking at Incheon International Airport on the 23rd. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Although the world is gripped by fear, the spread of pneumonia shows no signs of slowing down.
According to AFP and other sources on the 26th, Chinese authorities held a press conference and announced that the number of deaths due to Wuhan pneumonia reached 54, with 1,610 confirmed cases.
As Wuhan pneumonia shows a rapid spread trend, the government is also strengthening its response measures. On the 25th, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expanded the surveillance target contamination area from Wuhan to "the entire Chinese mainland" to identify suspected Wuhan pneumonia patients at airport quarantine stages as much as possible.
Additionally, all travelers coming from China must submit a health status questionnaire. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also raised the travel advisory for the entire Hubei Province, including Wuhan City, from Level 2 (Travel Caution) to Level 3 (Travel Recommendation to Withdraw) on the same day.
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