COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Meeting
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun is speaking while presiding over the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on COVID-19 response at the Government Complex Sejong in Sejong City on the morning of the 23rd. February 23, 2021. Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Son Sun-hee] Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said on the 23rd, "The 'one-strike-out' system currently in place will be applied without exception to businesses violating quarantine rules, and they will also be excluded from the upcoming 4th disaster relief fund support target."
At the meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for COVID-19 held at the Government Complex Sejong that morning, Prime Minister Chung stated, "If the government overlooks violations of quarantine rules, it would be deceiving the majority of citizens who are strictly following the rules in their daily lives." He added that "measures to exclude those who violate quarantine rules from receiving living support funds after quarantine or COVID-19 treatment are also being considered."
Prime Minister Chung expressed concern, saying, "Although the number of confirmed cases has slowed down after last weekend, the situation is still not safe," and "there are frequent cases where social agreements are ignored in unseen places." In fact, last weekend, Seoul City, together with the National Police Agency, inspected clubs in the Gangnam District of Seoul and found cases where basic quarantine rules such as limiting the number of entrants, banning dancing, maintaining visitor logs, and wearing masks were not followed.
He emphasized, "In major city entertainment districts where social distancing has been eased to level 1.5, crowds gather more and more during late-night hours in restaurants and bars, and violations of quarantine rules are being observed," adding, "The government will respond more strictly to quarantine violations."
He particularly stressed, "The role of each local government is very important. If violations of quarantine rules are confirmed on site, please take strict measures," and requested, "The Ministry of the Interior and Safety should regularly check the performance of such measures by local governments nationwide."
Regarding the first domestic COVID-19 vaccination scheduled in three days, Prime Minister Chung said, "I feel excited as if a ray of hope is beginning to appear at the end of a dark tunnel," but warned, "There are still many hurdles to overcome." He noted, "Even Israel, which currently has the highest vaccination rate, continues to report nearly 4,000 confirmed cases daily," indicating that "forming herd immunity is not a simple task."
Prime Minister Chung said, "With the emergence of new variant viruses and uncertainties about the immune effects of different vaccines, countries around the world are traveling an unknown path never before taken," and added, "We will calmly prepare for vaccination with the attitude that 'the end is more important than the beginning,' and if necessary, we will promptly make improvements." He then appealed to the public, saying, "Until the day herd immunity is formed and daily life is fully restored, please trust the government and actively cooperate with participatory quarantine and vaccination."
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