SEOUL – South Korean President Moon Jae-in vowed today to use all available resources to stem the spread of Covid-19 as the country recorded a new daily high of 950.
Calling the current state an “emergency”, Moon apologised for failing to promptly stabilise the Covid-19 situation.
“We will consider this as an emergency situation and put all-out efforts in a short period of time, using all available administrative ability,” he said on Twitter, according to the Yonhap news agency.
Today, South Korea reported 950 more Covid-19 cases, including 928 local infections, raising the total caseload to 41,736.
Moon said the government will first strengthen its contact tracing capabilities, mobilising military, police and administrative officials, stressing that finding infected patients is the most important step to quickly overcome this crisis.
The government plans to set up temporary testing centres at 150 places in highly populated areas, such as Seoul Station.
The government will also expand drive-thru and walk-through virus test facilities, he said.
“If we greatly expand the number of tests like this, the number of patients could also increase. But it is a pre-emptive measure to find infected patients and prevent the spread.
“This is the last crisis before the vaccines and treatments are out.
“Turning over a new leaf, the government will stop the spread of the virus with heightened determination and extraordinary measures.”
Also today, Prime Minister Chun Sye-kyun said South Korea has no choice but to raise social-distancing measures to the highest level unless the spread of the coronavirus is curbed.
Social distancing Level 2.5, the second-highest level under the five-tier scheme, went into effect Tuesday in the greater Seoul area, covering Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, west of Seoul. – Bernama, December 12, 2020
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