Lee Jae-myung: "Will Fulfill Responsibilities with Central Government Until Day of Overcoming COVID-19"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung pledged to fulfill his responsibilities in cooperation with the central government until the day of overcoming COVID-19.

Governor Lee Jae-myung stated through SNS on the 18th, "I understand well that citizens are expressing fatigue due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. I also fully comprehend the difficulties faced by small business owners and self-employed individuals," and added, "Nonetheless, thinking of the hard work and dedication of the many public officials and healthcare workers striving on the front lines, I urge you all to muster a bit more strength."

He continued, "As one of the quarantine response officials, I will do my utmost to overcome COVID-19. I will not forget the gravity of the responsibility entrusted to me by the sovereign people and will fulfill my duties as a public servant," concluding his statement.

The following is the full text of Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung's SNS post.

<Gyeonggi Province will cooperate closely with the central government until the day of overcoming COVID-19.>
The spread of COVID-19 is not abating easily. Gyeonggi Province is cooperating closely with the central government and taking measures to respond to the infectious disease, including securing hospital beds. Even in this unprecedented crisis situation, the results of cooperation and collaboration between the central government and local governments are accumulating steadily. These results form one axis of Korea's quarantine response system.
A representative example is the administrative order to secure hospital beds in response to increased confirmed cases. The government accepted Gyeonggi Province's recommendations and issued an administrative order on the 13th targeting general hospitals and national university hospitals to secure additional hospital beds for COVID-19 patients.
Following the principle of bed operation within two weeks of the administrative order, the government plans to secure a total of 765 beds in the Seoul metropolitan area by the 27th, including 171 beds dedicated to critically ill patients and 594 beds for moderately ill patients. Of these, Gyeonggi Province plans to secure a total of 399 beds, including 55 beds dedicated to critically ill patients and 344 beds for moderately ill patients.
Additionally, Gyeonggi Province has been operating temporary screening centers at four rest areas on the northbound lanes of expressways since the 13th in cooperation with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to detect confirmed cases early during the vacation period. As of the 16th, 7,600 people were tested, and 15 confirmed cases were detected early.
At the COVID-19 Response Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting held on the 13th under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, Gyeonggi Province requested additional support for operational personnel for dedicated infectious disease hospital beds. We believe the central government will positively accept this request as well.
I understand well that citizens are expressing fatigue due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. I also fully comprehend the difficulties faced by small business owners and self-employed individuals. Nonetheless, thinking of the hard work and dedication of the many public officials and healthcare workers striving on the front lines, I urge you all to muster a bit more strength.
As one of the quarantine response officials, I will do my utmost to overcome COVID-19. I will not forget the gravity of the responsibility entrusted to me by the sovereign people and will fulfill my duties as a public servant.