Lee Jae-myung: "We Must Prepare for Infection Explosion"...Shifting Focus to Mitigation Policy

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung said that regarding COVID-19, he has already shifted the center of gravity toward an infection mitigation strategy and that we must prepare for the infection explosion that lies ahead.

On the 4th, through his SNS, Governor Lee stated, "Infectious disease response pursues a lockdown policy to eradicate the root cause in the initial stage, but when lockdown becomes impossible, we have no choice but to shift to a mitigation strategy of slowing spread and minimizing damage, and we have already shifted our center of gravity to mitigation strategy," and added, "It is a globally recognized achievement that through our efforts we have held back infection spread to a certain degree and delayed the acute infection explosion, but in this global era, the international environment surrounding us does not allow us to remain untouched."

This is interpreted to reflect experts' opinions that the infection will subside only after more than half the population is infected, and the serious spread situations in foreign countries.

Governor Lee also said, "We have worked hard to build breakwaters to block the waves, but now we expect a tsunami that the breakwaters cannot handle will come," and noted the current situation by stating, "Infections that cannot be traced are increasing, and more than half of the infections in the Seoul metropolitan area are from people entering the country, but over 90 percent of those entering are our own nationals, and our reality is that we cannot survive by cutting off international relations."

Continuing, he stated, "We must not stubbornly deny and avoid the infection explosion expected to begin now, but must face it calmly and prepare for it. Excessive pessimism is not right, but excessive optimism must also be guarded against. In particular, the administration, which is the final bastion responsible for the lives and safety of the people, must always prepare for the worst," expressing his view.

Nevertheless, Governor Lee conveyed hope by saying, "While the rapid pace is threatening, fortunately the fatality rate is low, so if we observe quarantine guidelines and the medical system operates well, we can end our coexistence without major damage," and then delivered a message to the residents of the province: "Dear residents of Gyeonggi Province, so that we can overcome this difficulty together, we ask you to strictly observe quarantine guidelines and maintain physical distance, but enhance social solidarity."