COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Meeting
"Four-digit cases for 28 consecutive days... Overall spread remains"
"All department executives urged to conduct on-site inspections"
[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum urged the public on the 2nd, saying, "The issue of the Delta variant virus is serious worldwide," and earnestly requested, "Please spend this vacation more as 'resting time' rather than 'time together.'
On the morning of the same day, Prime Minister Kim presided over the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting at the Government Sejong Complex and said, "Each ministry should consider this week as the last chance to stop the outbreak and have all executives, led by the heads of institutions, visit the field to inspect quarantine conditions."
Prime Minister Kim diagnosed, "For 28 consecutive days, the number of confirmed (COVID-19) cases nationwide has remained in the four digits," and added, "Although the recent increase in the metropolitan area has somewhat slowed, the overall spread remains."
He reminded, "There are quite a few vacationers not wearing masks at resorts, and cases of violating local government administrative orders by holding pool parties or operating illegal late-night businesses have been detected."
He continued, "As the Delta variant spreads worldwide, even countries with high vaccination rates like the United States are re-emphasizing basic rules such as wearing masks," and added, "Please refrain from traveling as much as possible during the remaining vacation period."
Prime Minister Kim emphasized the need for particular caution in group living facilities such as nursing homes, correctional facilities, and military units. He mentioned, "We must preemptively block infections within facilities from further spreading to the community through proactive diagnostic testing, thorough access control, and compliance with quarantine rules in shared facilities."
He also said, "Each ministry should have all executives, led by the heads of institutions, visit the field to inspect quarantine conditions," and "Local governments should closely analyze the quarantine situation by region and boldly implement additional quarantine strengthening measures if necessary."
Prime Minister Kim also stressed the need for thorough prevention and control of African Swine Fever (ASF), which has been steadily detected mainly in the Gangwon and Gyeonggi regions.
He said, "Related ministries and local governments should strengthen quarantine management such as reinforcing quarantine fences, disinfecting around farms, and controlling access," and "Please review the response manual once again in preparation for actual outbreaks at farms."
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