Suwon Mayor Yeum Tae-young's Calls for 'Epidemiological Investigator Operations at Basic Local Governments' Finally Realized

[Suwon Ilbo = Reporter Seo Dong-young] Suwon Mayor Yeum Tae-young's consistent recommendations to the government for 'granting basic local governments authority to operate epidemiological investigators' have finally been realized. The response capability of basic local governments to COVID-19, with high concerns about regional spread, will now accelerate further.

The National Assembly held a plenary session on the 26th and processed the 'Corona 3 Laws,' including the 'Partial Amendments to the Infectious Disease Prevention and Management Act.'

The 'Partial Amendments to the Infectious Disease Prevention and Management Act,' sponsored by Democratic Party legislator Ki Dong-min, includes a clause stating: "Mayors, county heads, and district chiefs may employ epidemiological investigators among their civil servants when necessary to handle epidemiological investigation affairs."

Going forward, heads of cities, counties, and districts that meet standards set by Presidential Decree of the Ministry of Health and Welfare must employ at least one epidemiological investigator.

Mayor Yeum Tae-young, who felt limitations in responding to infectious diseases due to lack of authority as a basic local government head during the 2015 'MERS crisis,' seized every opportunity to recommend to the central government: "Transfer authority for operating epidemiological investigators and infectious disease response authority to local governments."

In 2018, he selected 'recruitment of infectious disease epidemiological investigators' as a Suwon City regulatory reform task and recommended institutional improvements to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. In April 2019, he requested the transfer of epidemiological investigator appointment authority to Gyeonggi Province. Gyeonggi Province recommended the transfer of affairs to the Decentralization Committee last July.

On the 8th, Mayor Yeum requested Prime Minister Jeong Se-gyun, who visited Gyeonggi Provincial Medical Center's Suwon Hospital: "Please grant authority to basic local governments to enhance on-site response capabilities for COVID-19." He also submitted recommendations containing provisions such as 'independent recruitment of epidemiological investigators by basic local governments and grant of pre-epidemiological investigation authority.'

Mayor Yeum Tae-young stated: "I welcome the National Assembly's processing of this bill," adding "This bill's passage will be an opportunity to strengthen the region's infectious disease prevention and response capabilities." He further said: "We will prepare for epidemiological investigator operations without any delays."

Mayor Yeum Tae-young also said: "Local governments, which understand on-site situations well, should be given more infectious disease response authority," and "If we trust local governments, grant them authority, and entrust them with response operations, we will be able to respond more effectively to infectious diseases like COVID-19."