Acting Gyeonggi Province Governor Oh Byung-kwon: "Will Focus on Minimizing Vaccine Coverage Gaps"

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hun] Acting Gyeonggi Province Governor Oh Byung-kwon stated regarding the COVID-19 spread situation that he will "focus on minimizing vaccine coverage gaps."

Acting Governor Oh said at a COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting held on December 8th at the Gyeonggi Province Government Building chaired by Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, "As shown by multiple key indicators including the number of confirmed cases and hospital bed occupancy rates, we are facing a difficult situation. As one of the regional quarantine officials, I will take responsibility and respond actively."

He further stated, "We will establish an organic cooperative system with 31 cities and counties through special quarantine inspections and regional manager operations, and in particular, we will focus on minimizing vaccine coverage gaps through seamless vaccination."

Acting Governor Oh added, "Regarding home treatment, Gyeonggi Province was the first in the nation to establish a home treatment system and implement infectious disease response. As home treatment has emerged as a key axis for overcoming the crisis, we will work together to share our expertise for stable implementation."

At the meeting, presentations on quarantine situations in capital region basic local governments were also given by Hwaseong, Ansan, and Paju cities.

Hwaseong City introduced best practices including establishing its own emergency response plan and COVID-19 response through a private-public-academic consultation body for foreigners; Ansan City presented dedicated personnel placement for prosecution of quarantine violation violators and lawsuits for recovery of expenses; and Paju City introduced operation of safe isolation facilities for quarantined persons.

In particular, Ansan City requested temporary epidemiological investigator state funding support and designation of cooperative medical institutions for infant home treatment.

The reason is that infants under three years old cannot express their own health conditions and carry higher risks when health conditions deteriorate, so cooperative medical institutions may avoid providing treatment.

The request is for medical institutions capable of managing home treatment for infants under three years old to be designated and operated at the level of the Central Headquarters, so that infants can receive safe home treatment.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, as the COVID-19 risk level in the capital region has continued at a "very high" level, chaired a Central Headquarters meeting at Seoul City Hall on December 6th and subsequently visited Gyeonggi Province on this day, intensively checking the quarantine promotion status of capital region local governments.