Wando-gun Distributes Masks to Foreign Workers for COVID-19 Prevention

On the 21st of last month, Im Gyu-jeong, the mayor of Geumil-eup, visited the dormitory of foreign workers to distribute quarantine supplies and conduct infection prevention activities. (Photo by Wando-gun)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Kyung-pil] Wando County, Jeollanam-do (Governor Shin Woo-cheol) announced on the 25th that it distributed 2,164 cloth masks to foreign residents in the area, a vulnerable group for quarantine, to prevent and curb the spread of COVID-19.

As the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the local community has recently increased, foreign residents staying in the country are facing difficulties purchasing masks.

In particular, foreign residents staying less than six months who are not enrolled in health insurance have expressed inconvenience as they are unable to purchase masks.

Accordingly, Wando County purchased 2,164 cloth masks and distributed them to foreign workers in local restaurants and aquaculture businesses, as well as multicultural families.

Additionally, for the shortage among illegal foreign residents who are in blind spots of management, the county requested cooperation from representatives of workplaces employing foreign workers to purchase and distribute masks on their own.

Governor Shin Woo-cheol of Wando County urged, “Preemptive response involving residents is important to prevent and curb the spread of COVID-19, so foreign residents staying in the area should strictly follow COVID-19 prevention guidelines,” and added, “The county will do its best to actively respond to COVID-19 so that local residents do not feel anxious due to the pandemic.”

Meanwhile, the county is actively working to prevent COVID-19 by placing hand sanitizers, disinfecting living spaces of foreign workers, and visiting workplaces of foreign workers in towns and townships to check compliance with personal hygiene rules and conduct fever checks.

In particular, measures have been taken at local screening clinics such as the Public Health Medical Center and Daesung Hospital to allow illegal foreign workers to receive COVID-19 infection tests just like Korean nationals. Personal information identified during the testing process is not reported to immigration offices, so those with suspicious symptoms are urged to get tested promptly.