President Moon and Prime Minister Chung Weekly Meeting... "Proactive Detection and Response to COVID-19 Second Wave"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwangho Lee] On the 25th, President Moon Jae-in urged, during a meeting with Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, "Since many experts anticipate the possibility of a second wave of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the Prime Minister's Office should proactively identify issues requiring preparation by each ministry and concentrate government-wide capabilities to prepare accordingly."

President Moon and Prime Minister Chung held their weekly meeting at the Blue House that day to comprehensively review the COVID-19 quarantine situation, including school quarantine and responses to regional cluster infections, and exchanged opinions on reforming the public mask supply system and the global commercialization of K-quarantine.

Prime Minister Chung reported to President Moon on ▲ responses to cluster infections originating from entertainment facilities ▲ preparations for in-person classes and school quarantine status ▲ and the current status of emergency disaster relief fund disbursement.

In response, President Moon said, "The current number of confirmed cases is at a level that our quarantine system can sufficiently handle," and added, "Since there is always a possibility of cluster infections during the social distancing phase, please focus on promptly diagnosing and isolating confirmed cases to block further spread." Especially mentioning the possibility of a second wave of COVID-19, he ordered, "Please proactively prepare the necessary matters by each ministry centered on the Prime Minister's Office."

Specific preparations include strengthening the quarantine system through organizational adjustments such as the elevation of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, enhancing epidemiological investigation and quarantine capabilities, as well as reinforcing medical and quarantine resources like hospital and bed readiness, securing protective equipment, and establishing residential treatment centers.

Regarding safe public life, preparations should include school quarantine, the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) preparations, public transportation usage guidelines, and improvements in food culture. From an industrial perspective, development of air conditioning and ventilation technology and restructuring of the tourism industry were requested as future tasks.

President Moon and Prime Minister Chung also discussed improvement plans for the public mask supply system.

Although the supply and demand situation has been stably managed through the public mask supply and the five-day rotation system, stock continues to increase, and both President Moon and Prime Minister Chung agreed on the need for changes to the public supply system in preparation for the end of the emergency adjustment measures on the 30th of next month, according to the Prime Minister's Office.

The government plans to review comprehensive improvement measures by gathering opinions from the industry and related ministries regarding the extension of the public mask system and the expansion of export allowance ratios.

Additionally, as many citizens are expected to face difficulties wearing masks due to rising summer temperatures, plans to quickly expand the supply of masks that are thin, lightweight, yet effective in blocking infection will also be promoted.