COVID-19 First Comprehensive Strategy Meeting, Oh Se-hoon: "Seoul City Has Not Done Everything... Limitations of a Blocking Approach"

"Request to Fully Discuss and Prepare Customized Measures by Industry"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, presiding over the comprehensive COVID-19 countermeasure meeting for the first time since his inauguration, emphasized the need for rapid change, acknowledging problems in the previous response methods.

At the countermeasure meeting held at Seoul City Hall on the morning of the 9th, Mayor Oh began by stating that an in-depth discussion was necessary and said, "It has been 1 year and 4 months since we started responding to COVID-19, but honestly, we need to reflect on whether we have fully done what was required during that time."

He continued, "We have merely complied with the central government's step 1, 2, 2.5, and 3 level responses, but we must reflect on how much we have listened to the inconveniences and appeals of small business owners and whether we have made efforts to reduce their suffering and find ways to succeed."

He emphasized the need for changes in the social distancing approach. In particular, he evaluated that vaccine supply is among the slowest compared to other countries with similar national power and pointed out that as the COVID-19 crisis prolongs, the blocking-style social distancing measures have limitations.

Mayor Oh said, "It is becoming increasingly difficult to accept uniform regulations such as business suspensions without considering the characteristics of each industry," and added, "We must devise industry-specific tailored measures and take special actions to minimize the sales impact on small business owners." He also urged, "Please approach this with a long-term perspective to create a manual that enables the most efficient and rapid response when a similar situation arises."

He also instructed to review changes in the recruitment methods and treatment improvements for excellent medical personnel, including the introduction of disposable diagnostic kits.

Mayor Oh emphasized, "Please listen to the difficulties on the ground and review whether there is a need to strengthen public healthcare," adding, "I believe that improving the quality of public healthcare services is the way to minimize citizens' inconveniences and serve the citizens."

He further stated, "As the first step to strengthening public healthcare in Seoul, we must improve the treatment of public healthcare workers at municipal hospitals and public health centers and switch from irregular recruitment to regular recruitment to increase predictability," and requested, "Please create a turning point that advances the quality of public healthcare to the next level."