What Is the Cause of the Difference in COVID-19 Cases Between Seocho-gu Office and Nowon-gu Office?

Seocho-gu Office Safety City Department Staff Confirmed with COVID-19 but Entire Department Tests Negative... Nowon-gu Office Taxation 2 Department Staff Confirmed, 24 Including 16 Employees and 8 Family Members Infected... Differences in Personal Prevention Like Mask Wearing Seem to Be the Cause

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seocho District Office and Nowon District Office in Seoul have drawn attention by producing different outcomes after each confirmed a COVID-19 case.

Last week, one employee from the Safety City Division at Seocho District Office was confirmed positive for COVID-19.

Although this public official showed no particular symptoms, a confirmed case occurred at the gym they attended, and after testing, they were diagnosed as positive.

The district immediately conducted extensive testing on 26 employees in that department, all of whom tested negative.

However, after an employee in the Tax Division 2 at Nowon District Office was confirmed positive, a total of 24 cases emerged, including 16 employees out of 37 and 8 family members.

The differing outcomes following one COVID-19 case each at Seocho and Nowon District Offices have drawn interest regarding the underlying reasons.

A Seocho District Office official stated on the 30th, “Seocho District checks 1 to 2 times daily whether employees in all departments are wearing masks, with administrative support and personnel team staff conducting rounds. If an employee is found not wearing a mask, penalties such as duty orders are imposed to strictly enforce mask-wearing.”

In contrast, the Tax Division 2 at Nowon District Office, where the confirmed case occurred, has a cramped space, which appears to have led to transmission among employees.

A Nowon District Office official said, “The district office building was constructed in 1991 and is cramped. Since it is winter, the windows were closed while working, which seems to be the cause. After this incident, we have been ventilating once every two hours as a response.”

Observing the COVID-19 cases at Seocho and Nowon District Offices, it is interpreted that individual hygiene management, such as employees wearing masks, is the most important factor.