Mayor Yeom Tae-young: "International Arrivals and Their Families Must Practice 'Social Distancing'"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Mayor Yeom Tae-young of Suwon urged "families of international arrivals must avoid contact with the arrivals until COVID-19 diagnostic test results are released, and arrivals must practice 'social distancing' for two weeks without fail."

Mayor Yeom presided over a "COVID-19 Response Situation Review Meeting" held on the 23rd at the Suwon City Hall Disaster and Safety Situation Room, stating "There are cases where confirmed COVID-19 cases contact their families after entry, resulting in family members becoming infected." He added, "Families of arrivals should not go to the airport to pick them up, and should live in a separate space from the arrivals until diagnostic test results are released."

He further urged, "Arrivals should refrain from going out for two weeks after returning home, stay indoors as much as possible, and thoroughly avoid contact with family members and other people."

As of 4 p.m. on the 23rd, there are 4 "quarantine-confirmed cases" residing in Suwon. They entered from the United States (Suwon Quarantine-confirmed Cases 1 and 2), South America (confirmed case 3, traveled to 4 countries), and Ireland (confirmed case 4).

Since the 22nd, the government has been conducting COVID-19 diagnostic tests on all domestic and foreign nationals coming from Europe. Those with symptoms are moved to quarantine facilities, while asymptomatic individuals are moved to temporary living facilities for specimen testing. If diagnostic test results show no abnormalities, Korean nationals are placed in self-quarantine at their residences for 12 days, while foreigners are placed in government-designated facilities.

Arrivals from countries other than Europe are not yet being screened at airports. On the 23rd, the government announced that "measures to strengthen quarantine procedures for arrivals from countries outside Europe are being prepared."

Mayor Yeom Tae-young stated, "The key task to prevent COVID-19 spread is to strictly manage arrivals from abroad," and added, "I will recommend to the government to 'share lists so that local governments can manage arrivals from Europe.'"

He further noted, "COVID-19 spread can be minimized only if local governments strictly manage arrivals."

Mayor Yeom also said, "The government is conducting a 'social distancing' campaign, but there is a need for flexible measures in places where many citizens gather," instructing that "inform citizens of the purpose of social distancing and request their participation."

As of 4 p.m. on the 23rd, there are 27 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Suwon, including 4 "quarantine-confirmed cases," and as of the 22nd, the number of specimen tests in Suwon reached 56, marking the lowest count since February 19th (53 tests).