CDCHQ to Operate Hotline for June 1 Local Elections Until Next Month 1
[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] As cases of 'monkeypox' infection continue to occur worldwide, our government has decided to expand the testing system to the city and provincial levels nationwide in preparation for the virus's domestic inflow.
Lee Ki-il, the 1st Chief Coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Vice Minister of Health and Welfare), held a Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting at the Government Sejong Complex on the morning of the 25th and said, "Today we will discuss monkeypox," adding, "We will closely monitor the international situation and strengthen the management to block the overseas inflow of the virus."
The quarantine authorities have been continuously establishing diagnostic systems in preparation for future infectious diseases and have already completed the development and evaluation of the 'monkeypox diagnostic test method and reagents' in 2016. Currently, the only institution capable of testing domestically is the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
However, as cases of infection with this virus have spread globally, to thoroughly prepare for domestic inflow and occurrence, a system enabling testing at regional health and environment research institutes will be established. So far, 171 confirmed patients and 86 suspected patients have been reported in a total of 18 countries.
Lee, the Chief Coordinator, said, "We will continue to closely monitor the international situation and strengthen the management to block the overseas inflow of the virus."
To safely conduct the local elections on June 1, which are just a week away, thorough preparations for voting quarantine measures are being made. The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced that a central government hotline, allowing rapid consultation among the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and the KDCA, will operate from the 27th of this month until the 1st of next month.
COVID-19 confirmed cases and quarantined individuals will vote at polling stations during the legal voting hours after general voters have finished voting, following the same procedures as general voters.
Early voting for confirmed and quarantined individuals is available on the 28th from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM, and voting on election day is possible on the 1st of next month from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM.
Meanwhile, the weekly number of COVID-19 confirmed cases has decreased for nine consecutive weeks, dropping to an average of 20,000 cases per day last week. The weekly number of confirmed cases decreased by approximately 27.9% compared to the previous week to about 180,000, and the cumulative number of confirmed cases reached 18 million, accounting for about 35% of the total domestic population. The infection reproduction number is 0.83, remaining below 1 for eight consecutive weeks, and the cumulative fatality rate is 0.13%. Accordingly, last week, the COVID-19 risk assessment for both the metropolitan area and non-metropolitan areas entered the 'low' stage.
Lee, the Chief Coordinator, said, "I am grateful that many citizens have voluntarily worn masks according to the situation even after the outdoor mask mandate was lifted on the 2nd of this month," adding, "The government will not let its guard down and will thoroughly prepare for the COVID-19 resurgence expected as early as this summer."
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