Two Additional Screening Test Laboratories Opened Due to Increased Screening Clinic Test Requests...Emergency Deployment of Public Health Medical Staff to Prevent Local Infection Spread
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Yeongdeungpo-gu (District Mayor Chae Hyun-il) Public Health Center has taken proactive measures to prevent the spread of local COVID-19 infections by installing additional testing rooms within the screening clinic and urgently deploying medical personnel to the health center.
As of 9 PM on the 21st, the number of confirmed domestic COVID-19 cases has reached 204, with the spread accelerating rapidly and two deaths reported, causing growing anxiety among residents and an increase in visitors to the screening clinic.
In response, the district decided at a comprehensive countermeasure meeting to expand the testing rooms within the screening clinic. By the 22nd, containers will be additionally installed at the screening clinic, which was previously set up and operated next to the health center, to reinforce the testing facilities.
The newly installed facilities will include two containers used respectively as a patient waiting area and a test reception room. Three mobile negative pressure devices, which prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses, will be deployed in the patient waiting room and test reception room, creating conditions equivalent to a negative pressure ward. Mobile heaters will also be installed to prepare for the cold winter weather.
The district will reorganize the existing screening clinic, increasing the number of specimen testing rooms from two to four to strengthen visitor response such as specimen collection.
Additionally, to supplement the workforce at the expanded screening clinic, the district will urgently deploy medical personnel to handle COVID-19 related tasks including guiding and counseling visitors to the screening clinic.
Furthermore, the district has determined that thorough personal hygiene management of frontline COVID-19 workers is paramount to prevent resident infections. Therefore, workers involved in patient-related response areas such as the screening clinic will be required to wear masks as well as Level D protective suits while on duty.
Moreover, starting from the 21st, some health center services such as consultations, vaccinations, and health checkups will be temporarily suspended to prevent residents visiting the health center for general medical care from being exposed to infection risks by overlapping movement paths with contacts and symptomatic visitors to the screening clinic.
The district has promptly announced the suspension of some health center services on the district office and health center websites, posted notices on official SNS channels, informed those with appointments for various medical departments and educational programs by phone, and assigned minimal staff for visitor guidance and facility management in consultation rooms and program rooms to minimize inconvenience to residents.
Yeongdeungpo-gu Mayor Chae Hyun-il stated, “As concerns about community infection rise, we have taken proactive measures such as installing additional screening clinics and supplementing personnel. We will do our utmost to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within the district.”
Yeongdeungpo-gu Health Support Division (☎2670-4891)
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