No Virus
As the opening of Universiade Gwangju 2015 is only 15 days away, the Gwangju Universiade Organizing Committee (GUOC) and Gwangju Metropolitan City are trying to assure the public with safety measures to prevent MERS-CoV in the region, the GUOC said on June 18.
[[{"fid":"11892","view_mode":"body_image_left","fields":{"format":"body_image_left","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Yoon Jang-hyun, chairman of the GUOC.","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":""},"type":"media","attributes":{"alt":"Yoon Jang-hyun, chairman of the GUOC.","height":746,"width":550,"class":"media-element file-body-image-left"},"link_text":null}]]“There are no confirmed cases or suspected patients in Gwangju so far,” the GUOC said.
Heat sensors are installed in major train stations and terminals throughout the city, such as Gwangju Songjeong Station, Gwangju Station, Gwangju Airport, and Gwangju Bus Terminal, the GUOC said.
In order to prevent infection, the GUOC plans to install triage screenings in the Athletes Village polyclinic and heat sensors in the Athletes Village, Headquarter Hotel, the Main Media Center and competition venues, the GUOC said. The organizing committee and city officials are taking safety and security measures seriously to keep Gwangju a MERS-free environment, the GUOC said.
During the games, the organizing committee will establish special clinics with top-notch physicians to serve not only athletes but also tourists visiting the city, the committee said.
In addition, the World Health Organization and FISU Medical Committee will be on-site around the clock to make sure all participants and visitors are safe from the virus.
As of June 18, 13,185 athletes and officials from 141 countries confirmed their participation for the World University Games in Gwangju, the GUOC said.
The number of participants has already surpassed 11,759 of the 2013 Kazan Universiade, and therefore Gwangju established the record of the highest number of participants in Universiade history, the GUOC said.
The GUOC said, “Due to flight schedule changes, manual arrival and departure data submission, and incorrect registration information, many countries have postponed their individual registration. Therefore, more individual entries are expected to be submitted by the end of June.”
The GUOC Chairman, Yoon Jang-hyun stated, “Gwangju is ready to welcome not only athletes and officials but also cheerleaders from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to take part in the World University Games. With the help of the central government and private sectors, we are also ready to host one of the most successful Universiades ever.”