Government under fire for failing to tackle mask shortage

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

National

Sun, October 1, 2023 | 21:12

Health & Science

Government under fire for failing to tackle mask shortage

Posted : 2020-03-04 17:26

Updated : 2020-03-04 21:03

Members of the Capital Defense Command spray disinfectant from a decontamination truck near Yeokchon Station in Eunpyeong District, western Seoul, Wednesday. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

By Kim Se-jeong

The Moon Jae-in administration has failed to improve the ongoing shortage of face masks due to its "inaccurate" estimates of supply and demand amid the rapid spread of the coronavirus, according to experts, Wednesday.

"The government drew a mask supply plan based on a production capacity and a demand estimate. The government failed to forecast a sharp demand increase fueled by fear. The government should have considered this more carefully during its planning," said Myongji University Prof. Kim Hyun-joon.

Amid the worsening mask shortage, the government began to intervene in production and distribution Feb. 26. It promised to get enough masks by channeling them through public organizations ― post offices and the NongHyup Bank's Hanaro Mart stores ― and pharmacies.

Yet, the masks didn't arrive on time at those outlets and even after the supply started, lines of people outside the outlets didn't disappear ― many even had to leave without getting any.

A mask producer told local media outlets that staff and machines were overloaded in trying to meet deadlines. "The machines work 24 hours without a break. So do my staff. We would like to have people with technical skills, but it takes time," he said.

On Tuesday, President Moon lashed out at officials handling the mask distribution and apologized for the supply delay. "I am sorry that the government is not supplying enough masks to citizens," Moon said.

According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), there were an additional 293 patients as of?9 p.m., Wednesday, putting the total at 5,621, with 33 fatalities. On Tuesday, 516 new coronavirus patients were confirmed.

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Daegu alone had more than 4,000 confirmed patients. The Daegu City Government said 1,300 patients were hospitalized and by the end of this weekend, 2,000 additional rooms will be available.

Nationwide, the KCDC said 65.5 percent of patients contracted the virus via mass outbreaks at the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in Daegu, Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo, North Gyeongsang Province, the Catholic University of Korea, and Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital among others.

There was good news on Wednesday.

The authorities said among 62 virus patients from Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo, North Gyeongsang Province, 20 were negative in the most recent round of testing. Daenam had more than 100 confirmed patients among whom seven died. Instead of going home, the 20 will spend some time at Bugok National Hospital in Changnyeong, South Gyeongsang Province.

Meanwhile, Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae said publicly Wednesday that a prosecution investigation into the Shincheonji Church was what the people wanted.

Calls have been growing for the prosecution to investigate the sect which is at the center of the epidemic outbreak and detain founder Lee Man-hee.

On Monday, Choo ordered the Central District Prosecution Office to seek a search warrant for the sect's headquarters.

"More than 86 percent of citizens want an investigation of the sect," Choo said during a meeting with lawmakers, citing a survey conducted by the CBS on Feb. 28.

Previously, Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon filed a crimination investigation request against the sect's founder Lee, alleging that he committed homicide by willful negligence.

skim@koreatimes.co.kr