Wuhan Returnees to Stay in Jincheon and Asan (Update)

Animal protection organizations, including the Korea Animal Protection Alliance, held a press conference on the 29th near the Chinese Embassy in Jung-gu, Seoul, condemning China's wild animal consumption culture, which is considered the cause of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia). Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The government has designated two temporary facilities for Korean nationals returning from abroad starting on the 30th due to the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia): the Chungnam Asan Police Human Resources Development Institute and the Chungbuk Jincheon National Civil Service Human Resources Development Institute.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, composed of related ministries, held its third meeting on the 29th and decided on this matter after consultation. The headquarters explained that after discussions with quarantine experts, these two state-operated facilities were selected to minimize the inconvenience to returning nationals and public concerns about the possibility of infection. The headquarters stated, "We considered each facility's capacity, the location of nearby medical institutions, the distance between the airport and the facilities, and regional balance."

According to the Wuhan Consulate General, about 720 nationals applied recently to return home. Initially, the number was around 150, but as confirmed cases rapidly increased in China, the number of those wishing to return also rose. To fundamentally block the possibility of infection after returning to Korea, each person will stay in a single room at the designated facilities.

After arrival, returning nationals will undergo symptom checks at the airport, and if no symptoms are present, they will stay at the temporary living facilities for two weeks. Efforts will be made to prevent mutual contact as much as possible, and masks must be worn at all times when leaving personal spaces. No outside visits or outings are allowed during the stay.

Medical staff will be stationed at all times, conducting temperature checks and health questionnaires twice daily to monitor health status. If fever or respiratory symptoms occur, the individual will be immediately transferred to an isolation medical institution for confirmation and treatment. If no special symptoms appear during the two weeks, they will receive health education and then return home. The government plans to form a joint support team at the two selected facilities to deploy medical equipment and personnel and provide daily necessities.