Gangnam-gu, First Local Government Nationwide to Establish 'Infectious Disease Control Center'

Secured a standalone building with 1 basement and 2 floors above ground... Proactive post-COVID measures including purchase of negative pressure ambulances... Total 2,700 medical institutions in Gangnam-gu, accounting for 15% of Seoul, the highest among 25 districts

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Gangnam-gu (District Mayor Jeong Soon-gyun) will establish the nation’s first “Infectious Disease Management Center” among local governments nationwide by the second half of this year to integrate infectious disease information management and to block local infections early.

The Infectious Disease Management Center, which will expand and reorganize the Gangnam-gu screening clinic, will be a standalone building with one basement floor and two above-ground floors, equipped with two or more negative pressure examination rooms. It will have specialized personnel such as infectious disease medical professionals and epidemiologists stationed at all times to focus on managing vulnerable groups such as overseas arrivals and the elderly.

Under normal circumstances, it will integrate information on infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, syphilis, and AIDS, and in times of crisis, it will play a role in early blocking of community infections through mass testing and rapid diagnosis. Additionally, it will establish an integrated situation management and crisis response system through organic linkage and cooperation with quarantine authorities such as infectious disease specialized hospitals and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.

Furthermore, starting from the second half of this year, the district will introduce the country’s first “Infection Control Excellence Clinic Certification System” to discover exemplary medical institutions in infection control. There are a total of 2,700 medical institutions in the area, accounting for 15% of Seoul and the highest number among the 25 autonomous districts.

Also, to block infections during patient transport, Gangnam-gu will purchase and begin full operation of a special ambulance equipped with negative pressure and filtering devices, the first of its kind in Seoul. Negative pressure special ambulances are mainly operated by large hospitals, but Mayor Jeong Soon-gyun judged that it was necessary for the district to have one for the health and safety of residents, leading to its introduction.

Since opening the screening clinic on January 26, Gangnam-gu has conducted proactive COVID-19 specimen testing, with 22,583 tests conducted as of the 1st, the highest number among basic local governments nationwide. In last year’s tuberculosis epidemiological investigation, 90 cases were recorded, accounting for 10% of the total investigations in Seoul, accumulating know-how through mass testing.

Mayor Jeong emphasized, “In the post-COVID-19 era, infectious disease management is essential to maintain health and safety,” adding, “We will continue to prepare proactively for the post-COVID-19 era by establishing a ‘non-face-to-face administrative system’ based on thorough testing and quarantine, as well as various ‘economic revitalization measures.’”