The government plans to cover the costs associated with domestic efforts to contain the spread of the new coronavirus.
The health ministry announced Wednesday that the government will pay for all expenses related to the screening of suspected cases, treatments for the disease and the isolation of infected patients.
The ministry said it will cover everything from the moment a patient is hospitalized until he or she is discharged, with the only exception being if the patient gets a checkup for other, non-virus related illnesses.
DNA testing to determine if a person has the novel coronavirus costs over 100,000 won, with drug treatment, hospital beds and other special equipment needed to monitor an infected patient likely to run into the tens of millions of won.■
<Photo: Yonhap News>
