Suwon Mayor Yeom Tae-young: "Must Quickly Identify Asymptomatic COVID-19 Cases"

[Suwon Ilbo = Reporter Seo Dong-young] Suwon Mayor Yeom Tae-young said, "The most pressing task now is to quickly identify asymptomatic COVID-19 cases and prevent their spread."

Mayor Yeom made the remark on January 29 during a non-contact "Expanded Executive Meeting for January 2021," stating that "at Suwon City's temporary screening testing sites where anyone can be tested regardless of symptoms, 17,225 people were tested as of January 28, with 28 people (0.16%) testing positive." He added, "Applying the positive test ratio to Suwon City's population, we can estimate that approximately 2,000 asymptomatic COVID-19 cases exist in Suwon City."

He further emphasized, "It is crucial to quickly identify asymptomatic cases through rapid testing, isolate the infected, and prevent the spread of the virus."

The city has been operating temporary screening testing sites at health centers in four districts since January 14 and at Suwon Station Plaza since January 16. At the temporary screening testing sites, anyone can be tested free of charge, regardless of epidemiological connection to confirmed cases or the presence of symptoms. No reservation is required; individuals only need to provide their phone number for receiving test results, along with gender, age group, and symptoms information at the site.

Mayor Yeom said, "There are various opinions about raising social distancing to level 3," and added, "What matters most is complying with the quarantine guidelines appropriate for each level and maintaining a commitment to work together to overcome this crisis."

Mayor Yeom also stated, "For more than 10 years since the launch of the fifth elected government, we have steadily worked toward realizing local autonomy," and "Finally, the comprehensive amendment to the Local Autonomy Act has passed the National Assembly, making it possible to realize 'Suwon Special City' in January 2022." He added, "I am grateful to the citizens and civil servants who worked together for 10 years to amend the Local Autonomy Act."