"Prepare Flood and Wind Disaster Measures Considering Climate and Environment as Soon as the Rain Stops"
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun is attending the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting on COVID-19 response held at the Government Seoul Office Building on the 5th. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@
[Asia Economy Reporter Kwangho Lee] Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun on the 5th instructed, "Review the proposal to designate the Chungbuk, Gyeonggi, and Chungnam regions, which suffered damage from the heavy rain, as special disaster areas as quickly as possible." He also urged, "Local governments should carefully ensure that citizens evacuated to temporary shelters do not experience any inconvenience."
At the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting on COVID-19 held at the Government Seoul Office that day, Prime Minister Chung said, "Due to the prolonged rainy season lasting over 40 days, the ground has weakened, and the recent heavy rain over the past few days has caused many casualties. It is truly regrettable."
He added, "The Ministry of the Interior and Safety and related ministries and local governments should promptly carry out restoration as soon as the rain stops and prepare fundamental flood and wind disaster countermeasures considering the changed climate environment." He also urged, "Until the rainy season ends, public officials should do their utmost to prevent additional damage."
Regarding the sporadic small-scale group infections, Prime Minister Chung said, "In places like cafes and coffee shops, it is realistically difficult to maintain social distancing and wear masks, which limits the ability to block the spread of infection. Moreover, silent transmission cases in such places have characteristics that make it difficult to identify the cause and route of infection." He emphasized, "In fact, wearing masks and maintaining social distancing are the best vaccines."
He continued, "I ask the public to keep in mind that a momentary lapse in vigilance can lead to irreversible consequences." He urged, "Except for unavoidable situations such as eating, please always wear a mask and strictly follow quarantine rules, including maintaining social distancing indoors."
He added, "The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and related ministries should promptly establish quarantine guidelines for facilities frequently visited by the public, such as cafes, in consultation with quarantine authorities."
Prime Minister Chung also said, "As COVID-19 prolongs, frontline medical and quarantine personnel are very exhausted." He stressed, "To prepare for a long-term battle, it is important to maintain a sustainable quarantine system. Quarantine authorities and related ministries should review various fatigue relief measures, such as support for shift personnel and improvement of working conditions."
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