Kang Seung-woo is the Business Desk editor at The Korea Times. Prior to this position, he covered politics, national affairs, finance and sports.
South Korea to check arrivals from Wuhan over coronavirus
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, second from right, is briefed on preparation to prevent the spread of a new type of coronavirus from China during his visit to Seoul Metropolitan Government-Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Monday. / Yonhap
By Kang Seung-woo
By Kang Seung-woo
President Moon Jae-in ordered the authorities, Monday, to check on the health of all people coming from the Chinese city of Wuhan amid growing concerns over the outbreak of a newly identified coronavirus that has killed at least 81 people and infected more than 2,700 there.
The order came hours after a fourth case was confirmed in Korea
According to Yoon Do-han, senior presidential secretary for public communication, Moon issued the instruction during a luncheon with his senior aides at Cheong Wa Dae.
The measure comes as the third and fourth patients here apparently showed no symptoms during a temperature check at the airport when entering the country.
“The symptoms can occur later (after coming into the country), so we need to check the current conditions of people (who have entered here),” Moon was quoted as saying by Yoon.
“The President ordered all-out efforts to prevent the virus from spreading, calling for pre-emptive measures,” Yoon said, adding that Moon ordered medical personnel from the military, and its facilities, to be used if necessary.
Moon also called for the relevant ministries to keep tabs on any possible economic fallout from the epidemic. The finance minister is set to hold an emergency meeting today, according to the presidential office.
The reaction comes one day after the head of state promised pan-government efforts to tackle the disease, saying that his administration remained on high alert with an around-the-clock response system in operation.
“Now that the government is taking every necessary effort along with local authorities, I ask the people to have trust in the government and not to be excessively anxious in connection with the measures needed,” Moon said in a press statement.
His remarks came as 130,000 Chinese tourists are estimated to have visited Korea during the Lunar New Year holiday ― from Friday to Monday ― raising concerns they may have spread the virus.
The government also raised its infectious disease alert level one notch to “orange,” Monday, amid rising public concern.
Besides taking measures to prevent the spread of the virus here, the government is also considering evacuating Korean citizens from Wuhan by arranging a charter flight.
About 500 Koreans are estimated to be living in Wuhan and the Korean Consulate General there recently asked about chartering a plane to leave the epidemic-stricken city, with more than 400 people saying they wanted to leave.
Last Friday, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun presided over an emergency meeting with ministers to discuss stepped-up measures against the virus, including the charter flight. Also on the same day, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha held a video conference with the Korean consulate in Wuhan to tell staff there to seek cooperation from the Chinese authorities for the possible evacuation.
The Chinese foreign ministry and other agencies would have to approve of such an evacuation.
“The government is closely working with the Chinese authorities to evacuate Korean citizens using a chartered plane,” a Korean foreign ministry official said.
The United States plans to pull its citizens and diplomats out of the Hubei Province capital today.
The Chinese authorities recently shut down travel in and out of Wuhan ― including commercial flights ― to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
“We now understand that foreigners can leave Wuhan by car after receiving approval from the Chinese government, so the consulate there is receiving relevant applications,” a government official said.
The Korean consulate in Wuhan said on its website that if an airborne evacuation operation was not practical, it would seek to charter buses.
The foreign ministry has raised the travel advisory level for Wuhan and the Hubei region to “red” and recommended that citizens leave the region. A “red” alert is the third highest in the nation's four-tier travel warning system.
“We advise all Koreans to withdraw from the region unless they are on urgent business, and anyone planning to travel to the area should cancel or delay their trip,” the ministry said in a release.
Prime Minister Chung also visited Seoul Metropolitan Government-Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Monday, to check on preparedness against the disease.
“Based on the experience of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), the central and local governments have strong pre-emptive and countermeasures for prevention,” Chung said.
“I urge citizens to cooperate as well. People with suspicious symptoms should contact the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) call center on 1339 before visiting a hospital.”
According to the KCDC, a Korean man, 55, who returned from Wuhan Jan. 20, tested positive Monday.
It was the country's fourth confirmed case since Jan. 20. The health authorities are closely monitoring those who may have come into contact with the patients.