Jung Sye-kyun: "COVID-19 Spread Is Serious... Government Mobilizes All Resources for Response"

COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Meeting... Jeong Hints at Nationwide Distribution of '5th Disaster Relief Fund' in Radio Interview

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun is speaking while presiding over the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting for COVID-19 response held at the Government Seoul Office on the morning of the 19th. 2021.2.19 [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Son Seon-hee] Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said on the 19th, "The spread of COVID-19 after the Lunar New Year holiday is serious," adding, "The government will take the current situation seriously and mobilize all available resources to respond swiftly."

At the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting held at the Government Seoul Office that morning, Prime Minister Chung said, "Cluster infections continue in various daily settings such as large hospitals, production sites densely populated with workers, and family gatherings, raising the sense of crisis," and added, "Experts warn that if the spread is not controlled quickly, the worst-case scenario could occur."

Recently, cluster infections involving around 100 foreign workers have occurred, and the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has fluctuated in the 600s since the holiday. Prime Minister Chung said, "I understand that the relevant ministries are preparing and implementing measures to strengthen quarantine management," but he urged, "I doubt whether these are being properly enforced on the ground. Flawless implementation is more important than plausible measures." He especially pointed out, "Almost all foreign workers involved in the recent cluster infections at factories were in an illegal stay status," and criticized, "It is a very painful point for the government that the related authorities failed to properly grasp this reality."

Pointing to the responsible ministries, Prime Minister Chung ordered, "The Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Ministry of Justice should put aside their jurisdictional boundaries and, with the mindset that 'this is all our work,' renew their efforts to further strengthen quarantine management in areas and workplaces densely populated by foreigners."

Meanwhile, earlier that day, in an interview with CBS Radio's program 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' Prime Minister Chung mentioned the possibility of a '5th disaster relief fund' beyond the currently prepared 4th disaster relief fund, saying, "Depending on the situation, it could be distributed widely," indicating the intention to provide it to the entire population. When asked whether the 5th relief fund could be distributed in the first half of the year, he replied, "The sooner, the better," adding, "That is why we are working hard on quarantine measures to make it come sooner."