Yangcheon-gu, Full Efforts to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19

Yangcheon-gu, 24-Hour Disaster Safety Countermeasures Headquarters with 8 Task Forces, Reinforced and Expanded Personnel... 298 Daycare Centers, 8 Childcare Support Facilities, Temporary Closure of Some District-Affiliated Institutions... Shincheonji Affiliated Institutions Disinfected, Sealed, and Joint Public-Private Disinfection of Multi-Use Facilities

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Kim Soo-young) has taken various response measures to block community transmission following the escalation of COVID-19 to a critical level.

Operations of district-run facilities frequently used by vulnerable groups and large numbers of people, such as welfare centers, senior citizen centers, sports facilities, libraries, and cultural centers, have been temporarily suspended. Additionally, 298 daycare centers will be closed until March 9, and the start of the school year for kindergartens, elementary, middle, and high schools has been postponed to March 9. However, families with infants and toddlers who find home care difficult may apply for emergency childcare at daycare centers.

The senior meal service at welfare centers, which are multi-use facilities, has also been suspended. The relevant department held an emergency meeting and, concerned about seniors’ nutritional deficiencies, decided to provide meals six days a week with cooked meals on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and substitute meals on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Local volunteers assist with cooking and lunchbox packaging, and seniors visit the welfare centers to receive lunchboxes directly after hand sanitization and temperature checks.

Furthermore, the district has conducted disinfection at 317 locations, including 166 bus stops, 35 warming centers, and 111 private senior centers, and is operating 18 special disinfection teams composed of public and private sectors to focus on disinfecting public and multi-use facilities.

Three Shincheonji-related facilities in the area were visited, disinfected, and closed. The district plans to immediately conduct on-site investigations and take necessary measures if residents report any Shincheonji-related facilities in the future.

The district operates a 24-hour Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters with eight teams, expanding daily staff from six to 15 during day and night shifts. Daily afternoon working meetings are held, and to reduce infection risk from close contact during commuting hours, working hours have been adjusted to 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., except for essential personnel in each department, as part of efforts to prevent COVID-19 spread.

In addition, the district continuously informs residents of the situation through SNS platforms such as Facebook and blogs, as well as notification messages, emphasizing mask-wearing, hand sanitizer use, and infection prevention guidelines.

In particular, if there is any misinformation or inquiries about local news, the district promptly posts related information on SNS to prevent the amplification of anxiety and respond swiftly.

Kim Soo-young, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, stated, “We need residents’ cooperation to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and I urge everyone to be more thorough with personal hygiene such as handwashing. We will mobilize all administrative resources to do our best to prevent community transmission.”

For inquiries, contact the Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters at ☎2620-3682.