Tax Payment Deadline Extension and Collection Deferral for Residents Directly or Indirectly Affected by COVID-19... Strengthening 'Infection Prevention Activities' Including Closure of Multi-use Facilities and Providing Masks and Hand Sanitizers to Elderly Living Alone
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Nowon-gu (District Mayor Oh Seung-rok) is making every effort to reduce the financial burden on residents who are experiencing difficulties such as economic activity contraction due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection.
To this end, the district focused on ‘local tax system support’ and strengthening ‘infection prevention activities’ such as the closure of multi-use facilities managed by the district.
First, local tax system support targets residents who have suffered direct or indirect damage, such as medical, travel, performance, distribution, and accommodation businesses experiencing difficulties due to business suspension caused by the novel coronavirus infection. However, luxury entertainment establishments are excluded.
The main support measures include ‘deadline extension,’ ‘collection deferral,’ ‘delinquent disposition deferral,’ ‘local tax reduction,’ and ‘tax investigation deferral.’ The period can be extended once for up to 6 months within a maximum of 1 year.
Specifically, self-reported tax items such as acquisition tax and local income tax are granted deadline extensions, and tax items imposed by the district such as automobile tax and property tax are subject to collection deferral and postponement of seizure and sale of delinquent taxes.
If the novel coronavirus situation worsens, the district plans to amend the Nowon-gu tax reduction ordinance to provide additional tax reductions and defer tax investigations for up to one year.
In addition, the district is responding systematically to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.
On the 1st, it was the first to completely suspend the operation of 225 multi-use facilities and lecture programs. To avoid confusion among residents, advance text messages about the closure and postings on the district website were provided.
Also, 10,000 leaflets on ‘novel coronavirus infection prevention guidelines’ were distributed to each dong community center, library, and welfare center, and banners were posted throughout the area.
‘Disinfection activities are also being strengthened.’ Disinfection and sterilization are being conducted frequently at vulnerable facilities in the area such as traditional markets and foreign lodging facilities. However, due to limitations in disinfection personnel, on the 10th, the district purchased 4,000 disinfection agents with a budget of 18 million KRW and distributed them to 476 daycare centers and kindergartens, 242 senior centers, etc., guiding them to disinfect regularly.
For 1,114 legally mandated disinfection facilities such as apartment complexes and lodging businesses, the district also recommended additional disinfection beyond the annual legal disinfection frequency (5 to 12 times) in consultation with contracted disinfection companies.
Efforts are also being made to distribute ‘masks and hand sanitizers.’ Since the 28th of last month, about 22,000 masks and 1,300 hand sanitizers have been distributed to dong community centers, daycare centers, and welfare centers, and an additional 5,000 hand sanitizers will be distributed to related organizations.
Particularly, thorough care is being taken for about 4,000 elderly living alone managed by senior care centers. Considering their weak immunity and mobility difficulties, care workers who usually look after them visit their homes to distribute masks directly.
Currently, a ‘screening clinic’ equipped with personal protective equipment and negative pressure facilities is operating in front of the district health center. There are three screening clinics in the area: the district health center, Eulji University Hospital, and Sanggye Paik Hospital, which conduct patient treatment, specimen collection, and epidemiological investigations when suspected cases occur.
A ‘thermal imaging camera’ has also been installed at the entrance of the health center. If a resident with fever symptoms is detected, they are immediately guided to the screening clinic. In addition, in case of confirmed patients, the district coordinates with Seoul Medical Center, the emergency medical center for the northeastern region.
The Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, headed by the district mayor, is composed of eight teams including the emergency quarantine task force and maintains a 24-hour emergency contact system.
Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, said, “I am grateful that many residents are cooperating,” and added, “We will establish a proactive response system such as local tax system support and closure of multi-use facilities to prevent the spread of infectious diseases in the community as much as possible.”
Nowon-gu Tax Division 1 (☎2116-3566) and Public Health Division (☎2116-4344)
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