[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Nam-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City (District Mayor Kim Byeong-nae) announced on the 23rd that, following the confirmation that four Gwangju citizens who visited the Shincheonji Church in Daegu tested positive for COVID-19, causing heightened anxiety among residents, it will fully suspend the operation of social welfare facilities, group meal centers, and senior centers within the district that had recently resumed operations.
Accordingly, facilities such as Nam-gu Disabled Welfare Center, Gwangju Welfare Center for the Visually Impaired, Nam-gu Senior Welfare Center, 237 senior centers, Yangji Comprehensive Social Welfare Center, Inae Comprehensive Social Welfare Center, and Dongshin University Social Welfare Center will determine their reopening schedules based on changes in the COVID-19 situation.
Alternative meals will be provided to the elderly who use the senior meal service as before.
Nam-gu also decided to close all 141 daycare centers in the district, as well as kindergartens, local children's centers, and all elementary, middle, and high schools in the district until the 28th, following the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education's decision to suspend all educational activities at educational institutions.
However, daycare centers will identify emergency childcare needs for children who must attend due to unavoidable reasons such as both parents working, and childcare teachers will operate on a duty system rather than full attendance.
In addition, cultural, artistic, and youth facilities in the district will also temporarily close and shut down simultaneously.
The targeted facilities include Nam-gu Life Culture Center and Cultural Center, Nam-gu Youth Library, as well as the Eugene Bell Memorial Hall and Lee Kang-ha Art Museum located in Yangnim-dong and Daechon-dong, Daechon Traditional Culture Community Center, Bitgoeul Rural Theme Park, and a total of 13 facilities.
Furthermore, three district-run libraries?the Cultural Information Library, Youth Library, and Pureungil Library?will be closed from the 24th until the 6th of next month, although book borrowing and returns will still be possible during this period.
To actively respond to the containment of COVID-19 spread, starting from the 24th, health center medical services including examinations and vaccinations will be suspended. Only civil affairs related to hygiene and pharmaceutical licensing will be processed, and visitors must use designated elevators as guided by district office staff.
A Nam-gu official stated, “At this time, if you have respiratory symptoms such as fever and cough, you should refrain from going out, consult first through the 1339 call center, and follow national action guidelines while maintaining strict personal hygiene. We will do our best to bring an early end to the COVID-19 situation.”
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