Local Governments' Self-Sufficiency in Cloth Masks: Good Intentions, But...

Nowon District Office Recruits 100 Volunteers for 'Myeon Mask Uibyeongdan' Production Site
Concerns Raised Over Large-Scale Citizen Gatherings Contradicting 'Social Distancing' Measures

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-gi] As the mask shortage continues, some local governments are starting to produce masks themselves for 'self-sufficiency.' The purpose is to distribute these homemade masks to socially vulnerable groups, but there are concerns about safety as many people gather in one place to work.

The Nowon District Office in Seoul is recruiting volunteers to participate in mask production under the name 'Cotton Mask Volunteer Corps.' About 100 citizens will be selected to start making cotton masks at the district office auditorium from the 11th. The target includes people who can use sewing machines and citizens who can perform simple tasks such as sewing and packaging.

As of the 9th, there have been 9 confirmed cases in Nowon District. In this situation, there are concerns that collective mask production work could increase the risk of infection. Kim Ha-min (pseudonym, 32, female), who lives in Sanggye-dong, Nowon-gu, said, "The district's intention to give cotton masks to vulnerable groups seems good," but added, "I hesitate to volunteer because I try to avoid places where many people gather."

As these concerns have been continuously raised, the Nowon District Office announced plans to avoid gathering many people at once as much as possible. A Nowon District Office official said, "We are well aware of the concerns about the risks that arise when many people gather," and added, "We will establish an infection prevention plan that introduces a day or rotation system to prevent many people from gathering at once."

Not only Nowon District but also Guri City in Gyeonggi Province has started producing masks with the help of citizens. They decided to borrow the hands of students in sewing classes held at the city’s women's and senior centers. After finishing their classes, the students produce masks for two hours. There are also cases where volunteers are recruited to assist mask manufacturing companies.