Gyeonggi Province Activates Disaster Safety Headquarters...Strengthening Response to Novel Coronavirus
Suwon NewsPublished 2020.01.27 18:56
Infectious Disease Crisis Alert Upgraded from 'Caution' to 'Alert'...On the 27th, Existing Quarantine Countermeasures Headquarters Expanded to Disaster Safety HeadquartersGyeonggi Provincial Medical Center to be Utilized Stepwise if National-Designated Hospital Beds Fall Short
[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] In response to the increase in confirmed cases of Novel Coronavirus Infection, Gyeonggi Province has strengthened its response posture by upgrading its existing quarantine countermeasures headquarters to a disaster safety headquarters headed by the provincial governor.
On the 27th at 3 p.m., as the infectious disease crisis alert level was upgraded from 'caution' to 'alert', the province immediately expanded its Gyeonggi Province Quarantine Countermeasures Headquarters (headed by the Director of Health and Welfare) that had been operating until then into a Disaster Safety Headquarters (9 divisions, 43 members) headed by the provincial governor.
In addition, the province is operating the disaster safety headquarters of all 31 cities and counties 24 hours a day and sharing information and conveying response policies through video conferences with cities and counties presided over by the provincial governor or vice governors.
For 57 screening and treatment medical institutions designated within the province, field inspections by each city and county were completed by the 27th, and official notices were sent requesting thorough management of Chinese caregivers at nursing homes and other medical institutions.
In particular, the province is preparing for all possible scenarios by stepwise expanding isolation wards within the province.
Currently, national-designated hospitalization treatment wards at Myongji Hospital, Armed Forces Capital Hospital, and Seoul National University Bundang Hospital operate 26 rooms (28 beds). In case additional confirmed cases occur, the province plans to utilize six Gyeonggi Provincial Medical Centers. These medical centers have 18 beds at the national-designated hospital bed level and 23 negative pressure beds.
Should beds still be insufficient, the province is actively reviewing plans to utilize all facilities of the medical centers, and to use the Suduk Building (41 rooms) of the Gyeonggi Province Human Resources Development Institute as a contact isolation facility.
Additionally, the province plans to strengthen its response posture by securing response personnel, isolation wards, and stockpiled supplies in advance, and by inspecting the emergency response posture of health centers and the operational status of screening and treatment medical institutions.
Also, on the morning of the 28th, an emergency countermeasures meeting attended by private infection experts will be held to discuss future response measures.
A provincial official stated, "The province is responding swiftly and proactively to Novel Coronavirus Infection," and added, "We will provide disease-related information as quickly and accurately as possible to minimize residents' anxiety. We urge all residents to observe preventive measures such as hand washing and wearing masks."
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