Moon vows to mobilize all resources to fight COVID-19 as new cases hit record
President Moon Jae-in / Yonhap
President Moon Jae-in vowed Saturday to use all available resources to stem the spread of COVID-19 as the country's new daily infection number hit a record high of 950.
Calling the current state an "emergency," Moon apologized for failing to promptly stabilize the coronavirus situation despite the tightened social distancing measures taken that have caused inconvenience and economic damage to residents.
"We will consider this an emergency situation and make every effort as soon as possible, using all available administrative ability," he said in a message posted on Twitter.
On Saturday, South Korea reported 950 more COVID-19 infections for Friday, including 928 local cases, raising the total caseload to 41,736.
Moon said the government will first strengthen its contact tracing capabilities, mobilizing the military, police and administrative officials, stressing that finding infected patients was the most important step to quickly overcome this crisis.
The government plans to set up temporary coronavirus test centers at 150 places in highly trafficked areas, such as Seoul Station.
It will also expand drive-thru and walk-through virus testing facilities, Moon said.
"If we greatly expand the number of test sites like this, the number of patients could also increase. But it is a pre-emptive measure to find infected people and prevent the virus from spreading," he added.
"This is the last crisis before vaccines and treatments are available," he said. "Turning over a new leaf, the government will stop the spread of the virus with heightened determination and extraordinary measures."
Also Saturday, Prime Minister Chun Sye-kyun said South Korea has no choice but to raise social distancing measures to the highest level if the spread of the coronavirus is not curbed.
Social distancing Level 2.5, the second-highest under the five-tier plan, went into effect Tuesday in the greater Seoul area, covering Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, west of the capital. (Yonhap)