Political Sphere Hit Hard by COVID-19... Surge in Self-Quarantine Among Preliminary Candidates

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] With just about 30 days left until the general election, the political sphere is also taking a direct hit from the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) crisis. After minimizing face-to-face election campaigns, a series of self-quarantine cases among preliminary candidates is occurring.

According to the United Future Party on the 10th, Lee, a former district council member and a staff member of Yang Geum-hee's (Daegu Buk-gu Gap) preliminary candidate camp, tested positive for COVID-19. Lee underwent a COVID-19 test at the Buk-gu Public Health Center on the 6th due to coughing and fever, was transferred to Chilgok Kyungpook National University Hospital in cardiac arrest on the 9th, and passed away the next morning. The test result for Lee came back positive posthumously. Yang's camp stated, "Candidate Yang Geum-hee is currently self-quarantined at home," and added, "She is scheduled to be tested at the Buk-gu Public Health Center at 5 p.m. today."

On the previous day, a confirmed COVID-19 case was reported in the building where former Blue House National Planning and Situation Office Chief Yoon Geon-young set up his election camp. Fifty COVID-19 cases were confirmed in the call center office in this building.

On the night of the 9th, Yoon posted on his Facebook, "Assuming a possible situation, the Yoon Geon-young election camp is immediately taking preemptive measures from this time," and stated, "All volunteers, including myself as the candidate, will enter self-quarantine from now until test results come out, following the principles recommended by the quarantine authorities."

He also added, "The office where confirmed cases occurred (11th floor) and our election office (6th floor) are on different floors and use separate elevators, so the Guro Public Health Center informed us that volunteers, visitors to the camp, including myself, are not close contacts required to self-quarantine for two weeks."

So far, as face-to-face election campaigns have been restricted due to COVID-19, former Chief Yoon has been disinfecting the residential areas of Guro-eul and meeting residents. On the other hand, Yoon's rival, Assemblyman Kim, opened an election office across from Guro District Office, just a five-minute walk from Yoon's election camp, and launched a full-scale election campaign on the same day.

Yoon said, "Seeing what I used to watch on the news happening so close to me, I deeply realize how much the people fighting this situation must be worried," and added, "I pray that the COVID-19 situation will be resolved quickly so we can return to normal life."

Meanwhile, speculation about postponing the general election, which had been raised in some quarters, is currently considered unlikely. The Central Election Commission decided on the same day to conduct absentee voting for voters who have tested positive for COVID-19 and are hospitalized, in residential treatment centers, or self-quarantined at home. Absentee voting is a system where voters who are unable to go to polling stations due to physical difficulties can vote by mail at hospitals, nursing homes, or other places where they are staying.