Jeonbuk Province Appeals for Active Participation in Disease Prevention During Year-End and New Year Period

Aftermath of Daily Life Recovery... Surge in Patient Cases and Hospital Bed Occupancy Approaching Limit

[Jeonju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Kim Han-ho] In Jeonbuk, where 103 new COVID-19 cases were reported on the 7th of this month, signaling a red alert for medical response and quarantine systems, Jeonbuk Province has appealed for active participation in quarantine efforts.

On the 8th, Jo Bong-eop, Vice Governor of Jeonbuk Province, issued a public appeal to the residents, stating, “Jeonbuk Province is showing crisis signs in various quarantine indicators such as daily confirmed cases and hospital bed occupancy rates due to the aftereffects of returning to normal life. If the current trend does not stop, the worst situation may occur. Only by residents adhering to quarantine rules can we overcome the current crisis, so I ask once again to tighten the reins of vigilance.”

Accordingly, Jeonbuk Province presented four major countermeasures to overcome the current crisis with the goal of an absolute reduction in new confirmed cases, and decided to prioritize COVID-19 quarantine work by mobilizing all administrative power together with 14 cities and counties.

First, attendance by city and county heads (or deputy heads) will be mandatory at the joint COVID-19 video meetings held every other day to raise interest in quarantine measures, bridge information gaps, and gain momentum for implementing quarantine policies.

Additionally, the province and city/county department heads will be designated as quarantine officers and required to conduct direct inspections at least once a week.

A ‘Public-Private Joint Quarantine Inspection Team’ will also be formed and operated with private organizations and associations. Through this, guidance and inspections will be strengthened targeting multi-use facilities where the quarantine pass is being expanded, leading efforts to early establishment of the updated quarantine rules.

For this purpose, in addition to the 400,000 previously distributed promotional leaflets, an additional 10,000 shoulder sashes, 76 placards, and 200 banners will be produced and distributed.

Finally, a ‘Quarantine Inspection and Promotion Day’ led by deputy heads will be operated, conducting a large-scale ‘Quarantine Rule Compliance Practice Culture Movement Street Campaign’ together with grassroots-level eup/myeon/dong units, private self-governing organizations and associations, and multi-use facility associations.

Vice Governor Jo Bong-eop said, “No one thinks that year-end gatherings are more precious than themselves and their families. By refraining from meetings and gatherings, whether we can overcome this crisis will determine the sustainability of returning to normal life.”

Jeonju=Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Kim Han-ho stonepeak@asiae.co.kr