Symptomatic Individuals Initially Excluded from Boarding Also Transported
Asymptomatic Individuals Quarantined...Transferred to Isolation Ward After Entry
Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo is greeting attendees at a meeting with heads of medical organizations regarding measures against the novel coronavirus infection, held on the 29th at Dalgaebi in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@
[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] As the government deploys charter flights for Korean nationals staying in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, which is under lockdown due to the novel coronavirus (Wuhan pneumonia), it has decided to also board symptomatic individuals who were initially excluded from the boarding list.
Park Neung-hoo, Minister of Health and Welfare, stated on the 29th before a meeting with leaders of six medical organizations near Jung-gu, Seoul, "Symptomatic individuals will be boarded separately (on the plane) in isolation." Symptomatic and asymptomatic passengers will be seated diagonally apart on different floors of the aircraft. The government had previously informed applicants that those exhibiting suspicious symptoms such as a fever above 37.5 degrees Celsius, vomiting, coughing, sore throat, or difficulty breathing would not be allowed to board and would be quarantined by the Chinese government in Wuhan.
Minister Park said, "Symptomatic individuals will be transferred to isolation wards immediately upon arrival, and asymptomatic individuals will stay in temporary living facilities for two weeks," adding, "We will arrange seating to prevent cross-infection between symptomatic and asymptomatic passengers."
The government will screen for symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals through departure quarantine for Korean nationals boarding the charter flight. Minister Park explained, "Quarantine officers dispatched domestically will check for fever and health conditions," and added, "Even asymptomatic individuals could be in the incubation period, so seats next to and in front and behind them will be left empty."
The charter flight transporting Korean nationals from Wuhan is equipped with the latest model aircraft, allowing filtration through air circulation systems. Minister Park stated, "Even if bacteria are expelled through coughing or breathing inside the cabin, filtration makes the possibility of transmission to adjacent passengers very low," and continued, "Nonetheless, passengers will be seated diagonally, and symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals will be separated on the first and second floors to prevent additional infections."
Upon returning to Korea, entry quarantine will be conducted at the quarantine station. Quarantine officers will check for fever and health status as they do during return quarantine. Medical staff will be stationed 24 hours a day at the temporary living facilities where asymptomatic individuals reside separately. Minister Park explained, "Medical staff will live together 24 hours a day," and added, "Health status will be checked twice daily for asymptomatic individuals, and if any abnormalities are found, they will be immediately transferred to a hospital."
Meanwhile, on the same day, Minister Park met with leaders of medical organizations including the Korean Medical Association, Korean Hospital Association, Korean Dental Association, Korean Oriental Medical Association, Korean Pharmaceutical Association, and Korean Nurses Association to form a consultative body for joint response to the novel coronavirus infection. Minister Park requested, "I ask all organization leaders to actively cooperate so that the situation can be resolved in the shortest time with the least social cost."
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