Prime Minister Jeong: "Rapid Surge in Daegu and Gyeongbuk Cases, Immediate Containment Is an Urgent Task"

"Central and Local Distinctions Aside, All-Government Capabilities Must Be Fully Mobilized"
"Proactive Isolation of Daegu Area Congregants, Focused Management of Symptomatic Individuals Needed"

Prime Minister Jeong Sye-kyun

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwangho Lee] Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said on the 22nd regarding the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) situation, "Confirmed cases are rapidly increasing in Daegu and Cheongdo, Gyeongbuk areas. Swift and extraordinary measures are necessary."

On the same day, Prime Minister Chung held a Daegu-Gyeongbuk quarantine status inspection meeting at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters in the Government Seoul Office and stated, "The situation is changing rapidly, so although we held a video conference with the Mayor of Daegu and related officials yesterday evening (the 21st), today we want to thoroughly check the situation again including Gyeongbuk."

With confirmed cases increasing by as many as 142 overnight, and most of the additional confirmed cases (131) concentrated in Daegu and Gyeongbuk, Prime Minister Chung urgently convened the quarantine countermeasure meeting. The meeting was conducted via video connection with Park Neung-hoo, Minister of Health and Welfare, Jin Young, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, along with Kwon Young-jin, Mayor of Daegu, and Lee Cheol-woo, Governor of Gyeongbuk.

Prime Minister Chung said, "If we fail to properly manage Daegu and Gyeongbuk, we cannot prevent nationwide spread," and added, "The urgent task is to immediately block further transmission to other regions."

Above all, he emphasized, "The current situation is not only a problem for Daegu and Gyeongbuk but a national issue," and "We must mobilize all government capabilities without distinction between central and local governments."

He also mentioned, "Responding to COVID-19 is a race against time," and "Whether the government responds swiftly will be the key factor determining success or failure."

Prime Minister Chung ordered, "To minimize damage, confirmed cases must be quickly identified, isolated, and treated promptly," and "In particular, it is necessary to preemptively isolate members of related religious groups in the Daegu area and to conduct rapid diagnostic tests starting with symptomatic individuals for focused management."