Following more than 400,000 people who petitioned the presidential office for an entry ban on Chinese people, the medical community called for the health authorities to take a similar step to prepare for the worst scenario.

The Korean Medical Association (KMA) issued a statement for that purpose during a news conference in Seoul on Sunday.

“The third confirmed case indicates that we have reached the point where we have to get rid of passive stance and actively prepare for the worsening of the situation,” KMA President Choi Dae-zip said. “The government should thoroughly monitor the trend of China's national outbreak of the virus and prepare administrative measures such as complete entry ban from China in case of the worst situation.”

Choi also proposed that the government identifies the entrants from Hubei Province in the last two to three weeks, and conducts an investigation, tracking, and management of the whereabouts and symptoms.

The KMA head also suggested that health centers with screening services stop their general care until the current situation settles and concentrates on screening the virus and provide related guidance. He emphasized that his suggestion is necessary to reduce the stress and burden coming from the screening work.

Choi also proposed to identify the patients’ entry information with Drug Utilization Review (DUR) and International Traveler-information Service (ITS) and form a hotline between local health centers and medical institutions and share local authorities’ contact information.

“The medical community protected people from the swine flu and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) at the forefront, and it will do the same for this time,” he said. “The citizens should support medical service providers and carefully listen to what the medical community says.”

He urged the government to strengthen communication with the medical community, and prepare measures for possible compensation with protection and an environment best to protect the people from the virus.