Government: "If Daegu is not contained, nationwide spread... Test all symptomatic individuals" (Update)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The government stated on the 24th that if the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is not contained in Daegu, there is a possibility of nationwide spread.

Kim Kang-lip, Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters for COVID-19 (Vice Minister of Health and Welfare), said, "In the case of Daegu, the scale of confirmed cases is large, so if community transmission in this area is not effectively blocked, there is a high possibility that it will develop into a nationwide spread in the future."

The government plans to conduct diagnostic tests on all symptomatic individuals in Daegu city. Deputy Minister Kim stated, "We will conduct tests on all symptomatic individuals in Daegu city as quickly and intensively as possible within a short period."

The target group consists of 28,000 Daegu citizens. Adding the 3,334 members of the Shincheonji Daegu Church currently under full investigation, the total reaches about 30,000 people. Son Young-rae, Head of External Cooperation Team at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, explained, "This policy aims to quickly identify COVID-19 patients and isolate and treat them to reduce community infection in Daegu."

Deputy Head Kim said, "Regarding the current situation, we see it as a stage just before a very concerning nationwide spread," adding, "At this point, the most important goal is to block the full-scale regional spread as much as possible."