[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] A small city in Hubei Province, China, has decided to pay approximately 80,000 KRW in cash for reporting suspected cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). This is to prevent suspected patients from avoiding hospital visits.
The Macheng City government, with a population of 1.26 million and located about 100 km from Wuhan, the epicenter of COVID-19 in Hubei Province, announced on the 17th through its website that it will implement this policy.
Authorities explained that this measure aims to detect symptomatic individuals early and prevent hidden patients from spreading the disease.
Macheng City encourages supervision and reporting from all sectors of society by requiring that suspected patients be reported to local authorities in residential areas such as apartment complexes.
The city stated that if a reported individual is confirmed as a patient, a one-time reward of 500 yuan (approximately 84,000 KRW) will be paid. It also added that if there are multiple reporters, the reward will be given to the first person who reported.
Macheng City announced that all residents with fever symptoms or other signs should immediately report to their residential area and receive a medical examination at a nearby health center, and those who voluntarily undergo examination will also receive 500 yuan.
Additionally, to encourage epidemic prevention and control personnel in their search activities, the same amount will be paid to prevention and control personnel who discover patients with fever.
Macheng City stated, "Those who are infected but do not report and refuse medical treatment will be investigated by public security and punished according to the law."
Meanwhile, the total confirmed cases and deaths across China due to COVID-19 have exceeded 70,000 and 1,700 respectively, with Macheng City reporting 247 confirmed cases and 4 deaths.
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