Yeongdeungpo-gu, Rapid Distribution of 300,000 Masks to Residents

30,000 Masks Rapidly Distributed to Residents... Emergency Support for Seniors Over 65 Living Alone, Pregnant Women, and Beauty Salons... Additional Mask Supplies Secured Through Close Public-Private Collaboration with Social Enterprises and Volunteer Groups

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Yeongdeungpo-gu (District Mayor Chae Hyun-il) is proactively responding to block community transmission by distributing masks to residents to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Currently, due to the surge in confirmed COVID-19 cases, the demand for masks has skyrocketed, causing a shortage in the market. As a result, the government implemented the ‘Mask 5-Day Rotation System,’ limiting the sale of public masks to two per person once a week.

In response, the district has secured 370,000 masks to alleviate residents’ ‘mask thirst,’ distributing about 300,000 of them to residents including basic livelihood security recipients, people with disabilities, homeless individuals, elderly welfare facilities, and hospitals and clinics.

Additionally, approximately 37,000 masks donated by local companies such as TS Trillion were urgently provided to vulnerable groups such as elderly living alone aged 65 and over, pregnant women, as well as private businesses with high contact frequency including food hygiene establishments, laundries, real estate agencies, village buses, and beauty salons.

Furthermore, masks were also distributed to local quarantine teams and community leaders who take the lead in preventing local infections.

The district has secured an additional approximately 64,000 masks through purchase contracts with companies including the local social enterprise ‘Leadric.’

Meanwhile, the Yangpyeong-dong resident volunteer group ‘Sebakwi’ has continued meaningful sharing activities by donating 100 of the 300 self-made cloth masks to the Munrae-dong shantytown and 100 to the Daegu Community Chest of Korea.

The district is exploring cooperation and support plans such as cloth mask production with local volunteer groups like ‘Sebakwi’ to secure additional mask supplies.

Yeongdeungpo District Mayor Chae Hyun-il stated, “Apart from government measures, we have prepared district-level plans to secure and distribute masks for residents who are struggling due to the recent mask shortage. We plan to continuously support residents with masks as a public service until the COVID-19 situation is resolved.”

Planning and Budget Division (☎2670-7521)