Dongjak-gu, All-Out Efforts to Prevent Spread Following Severe COVID-19 Escalation

Reducing Health Center Medical Services and Significantly Strengthening Screening Clinics to Prevent Community Infection through Medical Institutions... Cooperation with 757 Local Medical Institutions and Active Guidance on Screening Clinic Usage Rules Including Priority Consultation for Residents... Establishment of Quarantine Task Forces in 15 Districts to Strengthen Quarantine System

On the afternoon of the 24th, Lee Chang-woo, Mayor of Dongjak District, discussed measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the community in response to the escalation to a serious phase at an emergency meeting of the Tongjang Association.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Dongjak-gu (Mayor Lee Chang-woo) has launched an all-out response to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the local community as the crisis alert level was raised to the highest stage, "serious."

On the morning of the 24th, the district held an emergency meeting of the Disaster Safety and Quarantine Countermeasures Headquarters chaired by Mayor Lee Chang-woo, promoting strong measures such as strengthening the operation of screening clinics and establishing a meticulous local quarantine system.

First, to prevent local infections through medical institutions, the health center will reduce its medical services and significantly strengthen the functions of screening clinics. The consultation hours will be shortened from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., maintaining only minimal medical functions such as issuing health certificates, tuberculosis diagnosis, and management of chronic patients.

The number of staff at the screening clinics will increase from one team of 10 people to three teams of 17 people, thoroughly conducting specimen collection and visitor consultations. A rapid response system linked to medical consultations will be established through the screening consultation center set up in Shindaebang-dong.

In cooperation with a total of 757 local hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies, promotional materials will be distributed and posted to encourage symptomatic individuals to consult and use screening clinics first before visiting medical institutions, actively guiding residents on usage rules.

Additionally, a routine quarantine system will be established to block community transmission. Fifteen district-level quarantine headquarters will be formed, with the district heads as chiefs, organizing three teams: general team, quarantine team, and community outreach team, establishing a district-level quarantine system.

The general team is responsible for infection response, external cooperation, and management of preventive supplies.

Within the quarantine team, separate mobile quarantine teams and resident quarantine teams will be organized to disinfect indoor spaces such as residential areas and public facilities, as well as outdoor areas like bus stops and passageways, conducting thorough disinfection and supporting quarantine work upon residents' requests. Since the 21st, the Saemaeul quarantine teams in each district have conducted intensive disinfection activities targeting multi-use facilities such as parks and areas vulnerable to cleanliness for four days.

The community outreach team will protect local residents by monitoring symptomatic individuals through visiting nurses, managing vulnerable groups, and providing resident consultations.

For 485 directly managed and commissioned/supervised facilities including the district office and cultural welfare centers, as well as 121 village buses and 4 welfare buses, disinfection of common waiting areas will be conducted once a week, and sterilization, cleaning, and disinfection of contact facilities will be increased to at least once daily.

Furthermore, to prioritize residents' health and safety, closures will be expanded to daycare centers and elementary after-school care facilities. A total of 219 daycare centers will close for two weeks (2.25.~3.9.), with emergency care provided by assigned teachers for dual-income families and others who find home care difficult. Twenty-five local children's centers and two Kiwoom centers will close until the 8th of next month. A total of 205 facilities, including 170 senior centers and welfare facilities, 9 sports and cultural facilities, 18 community centers and resident shared facilities, and 8 libraries, will remain closed until further notice. Detailed operational status by facility can be checked on the district website.

The Saemaeul Disinfection Team of Dongjak-gu is conducting COVID-19 disinfection work in Noryangjin 2-dong on the 24th.

Lee Chang-woo, Mayor of Dongjak-gu, said, "With the elevation of the COVID-19 alert to the serious stage, the district is making every effort to establish a routine local quarantine system," and urged, "Residents are requested to comply with preventive measures such as wearing masks and washing hands, and to promptly contact the health center if suspicious symptoms occur."