“The 7th epidemic is somewhat stagnant… An unreliable situation”
The government announced its policy of severe punishment for Chinese nationals who, despite being confirmed with Corona 19, refused to quarantine and fled, and were arrested within two days.
Kim Seong-ho, the 2nd general coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (Chief Response Headquarters) (Director of the Disaster and Safety Management Headquarters of the Ministry of Public Administration and Security) said at the meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters that day, “In accordance with the law and principles, I will punish them severely,” he said.
Chinese A (41) was arrested in Seoul the day before on charges of violating the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act.
He was tested positive following entering Terminal 1 of Incheon Airport with his wife on a passenger plane departing from China on the 3rd, and was scheduled to be quarantined at a hotel for a week, but escaped.
Second General Coordinator Kim said, “The government will continue to keep a close eye on the quarantine situation at home and abroad and ensure that quarantine measures for entrants from abroad are thoroughly implemented.”
He said that the government has been implementing enhanced quarantine measures for travelers from China since January 2nd, and from the 7th, it will also introduce a PCR (genetic amplification) test requirement before entry for those arriving from Hong Kong and Macau.
Second General Coordinator Kim explained that the average daily number of confirmed cases during the week of Corona 19 was 60,580 as of that day, down 8.2% from last week.
He said, “The 7th epidemic, which started in November of last year, seems to have stagnated somewhat.”
In particular, concerns are being raised that the rapid increase in confirmed cases in China and the spread of new mutations in some countries will affect the domestic corona epidemic.”
He added that prompt vaccination of high-risk groups is urgently needed, adding that the vaccination rate for facilities vulnerable to infection is 55.1%, which is close to the original target of 60%, but the vaccination rate for those aged 60 and older is 31.4%.
/yunhap news
