Prime Minister Jeong Declares Daegu and Cheongdo as Special Infectious Disease Control Zones (Update)

Prime Minister Jeong Sye-kyun

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwangho Lee] Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun stated on the 21st regarding the prevention of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), which has entered the initial stage of community transmission centered around Daegu and Gyeongbuk, "We will designate the Cheongdo area in Daegu and Gyeongbuk, where confirmed cases have recently surged causing difficulties, as a special infectious disease management area and take extraordinary measures."

Prime Minister Chung presided over an expanded Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting held at the Government Seoul Office that morning and said, "We will fully support the necessary resources such as hospital beds, personnel, and equipment."

He emphasized, "Until now, we have focused on blocking domestic inflow, but from now on, we will place more emphasis on preventing community spread."

He continued, "The government will comprehensively mobilize nationwide capabilities to overcome COVID-19."

Prime Minister Chung also said, "We will expand the ministerial-level meetings that I used to preside over every Sunday to hold countermeasure meetings three times a week with ministers and provincial governors."

Additionally, he added, "We will thoroughly inspect medical resources such as public and private hospitals within the region and establish a system for sharing resources at the national level when local resolution is difficult."