Medical Association: "No Risk of Virus Transmission Through Air"

Choi Dae-jip, President of the Korean Medical Association, is delivering a public statement on the novel coronavirus at the association's conference room on the 30th.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] In response to the opposition from local residents in Asan City, Chungnam Province, and Jincheon County, Chungbuk Province, where Korean residents returning from the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) will stay, the largest medical organization in Korea issued a statement saying "there is no risk of transmission outside the quarantine facilities."

Choi Dae-jip, president of the Korean Medical Association, said on the 30th, "The novel coronavirus poses no real risk of transmission or spread in general atmospheric environments," adding, "Droplet particles containing the virus cannot physically exist in the air in general atmospheric environments outside indoor spaces, and the virus itself also has difficulty surviving."

The government arranged a temporary flight (charter flight) to bring back Korean residents staying in Wuhan, China, who wish to return without symptoms. The charter flight is scheduled to depart within the day, undergo quarantine at the local airport, and is expected to arrive in Korea on the morning of the 31st. After returning, they will undergo quarantine and stay divided between the Asan Police Human Resources Development Institute and the Jincheon Public Officials Human Resources Development Institute. Although they have no symptoms and will stay in isolated facilities, the local communities are protesting, asking, "Why does it have to be our region?"

President Choi said, "It is completely natural for some local residents near the public institutions designated as quarantine facilities to have worries and concerns," but emphasized, "To overcome the infectious disease crisis as soon as possible, it is essential to provide accurate medical information in detail, tailored to the public’s perspective of protecting their families' safety, and to empathize with and persuade the public regarding their concerns."

He also suggested the need to restrict flights of Korean national airlines to China. President Choi stated, "For effective quarantine management, active measures such as the phased restriction or suspension of flights from China to Korea should be considered," adding, "Many foreign airlines have already taken measures to suspend or reduce the number of flights between China and their countries." Furthermore, he added, "I hope the quarantine authorities will provide financial support to frontline medical institutions so they can actively participate in infectious disease control, and sufficiently supply protective masks, hand sanitizers, and disinfection and quarantine supplies to medical institutions."

Meanwhile, the Korean Medical Association has established and activated an emergency response headquarters since the day before regarding this situation. President Choi serves as the head of the headquarters, Lee Jae-gap, chairman of the Infectious Disease Subcommittee of the National Health Protection Committee, is the deputy head, and Kim Dae-ha, director of public relations at the association, is the secretary. The comprehensive situation room operated by the emergency response headquarters receives and responds to inquiries from doctor members related to the novel coronavirus 24 hours a day and provides various announcements. It also monitors the progress of the infection and has created and operates a dedicated bulletin board on its website.

Amid delays in the charter flight schedule for transporting Korean residents living in Wuhan, China, the KE9883-HL7461 flight, presumed to be the charter flight to Wuhan, is waiting at the Korean Air apron at Incheon International Airport on the afternoon of the 30th. / Yeongjongdo = Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@