Accelerated Spread of COVID-19: Strong Recommendation to Refrain from Operating Religious and Cultural Facilities... 800 Multi-use Facilities in the Region Postpone Closures, Early Removal of Winter Shelter 'Jeongyangmak' and More
[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Songpa-gu (Mayor Park Seong-su) is making every effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within the region by refraining from religious gatherings and blocking multiple contacts.
Following the escalation of the crisis alert to the 'Severe' level on the 23rd, the district has been holding Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meetings every day at 9 a.m. since the 24th to respond in real time.
In particular, as the spread of COVID-19 through mass gatherings has recently increased, the focus is on blocking multiple contacts.
First, the district has actively recommended refraining from operating religious facilities. On the 24th, the district sent official letters to 110 medium and large religious facilities in the area and recommended refraining from religious gatherings through visits and phone calls by public officials.
As of the 27th, among 35 religious facilities with more than 1,000 believers in the area, 23 have announced that they have suspended worship and other gatherings and replaced them with online services. The district plans to continuously encourage the expansion of facilities refraining from gatherings.
Also, the district will dismantle the 'Jeongyangmak,' a cold-weather shelter installed at bus stops, earlier than planned. The district originally planned to operate the Jeongyangmak installed at 68 locations including Jamsil Station until the end of March when the last cold spell ends, but considering the enclosed structural characteristics of the Jeongyangmak, it will be dismantled early from March 2. Until dismantling, it was closed on the 26th to prevent residents from using it.
The suspension period of operation for about 800 multi-use facilities will also be extended. Among the facilities operated by the district, excluding the district office and community service centers, autonomous community centers, sports and cultural centers, residents' halls, welfare centers, youth centers, senior centers, and libraries will temporarily suspend operations until the end of March.
Additionally, according to government guidelines, 392 daycare centers in the area will temporarily close until March 8. All daycare teachers will work normally and provide emergency childcare for residents who have difficulty with home care due to dual-income families. All schools in the area, including 52 kindergartens, 40 elementary schools, 28 middle schools, and 19 high schools, will postpone the start of the semester to March 9. Care services can be inquired about and used at each school.
Furthermore, the district is closely cooperating with the Gangdong Songpa Office of Education and the Songpa District Academy Association to maintain an emergency system to ensure student safety due to school and academy closures, and is actively recommending refraining from performances at cultural facilities such as concert halls (4 locations) and large theaters within the district.
Park Seong-su, Mayor of Songpa-gu, said, “As the spread of COVID-19 infection is rapidly progressing, we are focusing on blocking multiple contacts within the region,” and added, “We ask residents to refrain from unnecessary outdoor activities and to make it a habit to follow COVID-19 prevention rules such as hand washing and wearing masks.”
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