Seoul Fire and Disaster Headquarters Donates 92 Million Won in COVID-19 Relief Fund

Slight Decrease in Number of Suspected Patient Transfers by 119 Ambulance Team

Korean residents in Wuhan, China, the outbreak area of the novel coronavirus infection, returned home on the morning of February 12 via the third chartered flight through Gimpo Airport. During the entry process, residents identified as symptomatic were seen leaving the Seoul Gimpo Business Aviation Center by ambulance. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Seoul Fire and Disaster Headquarters announced on the 8th that it has raised 92 million won in donations, expressing hope for overcoming the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and support for the public, and donated it to the Community Chest of Korea.

The fundraising involved all departments including the Fire and Disaster Headquarters, 24 affiliated fire stations, the Blue House Fire Brigade, Seoul Comprehensive Disaster Prevention Center, Seoul Fire Academy, and the Special Rescue Unit.

As the 'social distancing' to prevent the spread of COVID-19 has been prolonged, the Fire and Disaster Headquarters is producing and promoting videos on home training tips to maintain health indoors, aimed at relieving citizens' fatigue.

The Volunteer Fire Brigade is participating in activities such as assisting with the sale of public masks at pharmacies to overcome COVID-19 (2,793 people), helping at mask manufacturing factories (202 people), supporting disinfection efforts (63 people), and the Good Mask Campaign (534 people).

Meanwhile, the total number of patients transported by the 119 ambulance team in Seoul with suspected COVID-19 symptoms reached 3,878 as of the morning of the 6th, among whom 116 were confirmed positive.

The cumulative number of fire officials who were quarantined after being deployed for transporting suspected patients is 1,066, and as of the 6th, 8 fire officials are under infection observation or self-quarantine. No fire officials have been confirmed infected with COVID-19.

The number of suspected patient transports by the 119 ambulance team has slightly decreased from an average of 83 per day in the second week of March to 74 in the fourth week of March, and 65 in April.