Yeosu Mayor Kwon Oh-bong's Full Effort to Combat COVID-19 Community Transmission

Request for Calm Response by Following Personal Hygiene and Prevention Guidelines Instead of Excessive Anxiety and Fear

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Chunsu] It is known that there have been no confirmed COVID-19 cases in Yeosu City, Jeollanam-do to date. According to screening results, 287 symptomatic individuals visited, and among them, specimens from 93 people were collected and sent to the Provincial Health and Environment Research Institute, all of whom tested negative.

Mayor Kwon Oh-bong of Yeosu held a press conference to appeal to citizens as the COVID-19 crisis level escalated from caution to severe, stating, “Yeosu City is making every effort to proactively respond in order to protect the health and safety of its citizens and prevent the spread of community infection.”

According to Yeosu City on the 24th, a press conference was held at 10 a.m. in the Yeosu City Hall briefing room with about 20 journalists and others in attendance.

Regarding Shincheonji, Mayor Kwon said, “Our city has confirmed that no Shincheonji followers visited the Shincheonji Daegu Church, and disinfection of related facilities has been completed. Among the 3,200 registered Shincheonji members in our city, symptomatic individuals will be tested.”

At the event, Mayor Kwon announced, “Public events and city projects in Yeosu will be canceled in principle.”

Regarding the city’s quarantine measures, he explained, “Disinfection of multi-use facilities has been strengthened, fever detection cameras have been installed at the airport, train station, and passenger ferry terminal, and a self-designated quarantine facility is being operated in preparation for any emergency.”

Regarding childcare measures, he said, “Due to the unprecedented nationwide one-week delay in the start of kindergarten and elementary to high school classes, emergency care services are being provided to dual-income families facing difficulties, and emergency care for kindergartens and elementary schools will be reviewed in cooperation with the Office of Education.”

He also stated, “Childcare centers will be reviewed later considering the trend of infection spread.”

Regarding medical measures in case of patient occurrence, he said, “There are 20 negative pressure beds available in the province: 4 in Suncheon, 4 in Gangjin, 10 in Mokpo, 2 in St. Carollo Hospital, and 12 at Chonnam National University and Chosun University hospitals. Efforts are underway to secure standalone hospitals such as Suncheon Medical Center for outbreak response. Additional screening clinics at large hospitals will be discussed with central government and provincial authorities.”

He added, “To focus on infectious disease tasks, health promotion and general medical services at public health centers will be temporarily suspended.”

Regarding Chinese international students, he emphasized, “Out of 139 students, currently 8 of the 10 who have entered are staying at Gukdong Dormitory, and 2 are under self-quarantine. Chonnam National University Yeosu Campus has also hired additional dedicated management personnel to oversee them.”

He continued, “100 students are scheduled to enter on March 14 (52 students) and March 30 (48 students). In case of confirmed cases, patients will be immediately transferred to isolation wards at medical centers, and facilities such as Bonghwangsan Recreation Forest have been secured for contact quarantine.”

Meanwhile, Mayor Kwon stated, “Since the COVID-19 outbreak, the number of tourists has sharply decreased and local consumption has contracted, worsening the damage to small and medium-sized enterprises and small business owners. The city is making every effort to revitalize the local economy.”

He said, “We are providing low-interest development and management loans to SMEs and small business owners, implementing credit guarantees for low-credit small business owners starting this year, and increasing the discount rate for Yeosu Love Gift Certificates from 6% to 10%.”

He also said, “The 4.3 billion KRW public benefit allowance for farmers and fishermen in the first half of the year will be paid in Yeosu gift certificates starting March 25,” emphasizing the city’s full commitment to local economic revitalization.

Finally, he said, “If additional developments occur, the city will hold official briefings and transparently disclose all information,” and urged, “Citizens should not be swayed by rumors on social media that cause excessive anxiety and fear but should remain calm and continue their livelihoods.”

He added, “Citizens are asked to refrain from traveling to or visiting areas with many confirmed cases such as Daegu, Cheongdo, and Gyeongbuk, and if they have symptoms such as fever, please visit the public health center or Yeocheon Jeonnam Hospital screening clinic first.”