Goyang-si Announces 'Comprehensive Measures for Lunar New Year'... Urges Compliance with Quarantine Rules

Advance Reservation and Vehicle Alternation System for Cemetery and Columbarium Visits
Emergency Medical Situation Rooms, 48 Hospitals and Clinics, and 108 Pharmacies Designated and Operated

Goyang City Hall

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Marking the third holiday season since the spread of 'COVID-19,' Goyang City in Gyeonggi Province announced a comprehensive plan for the Lunar New Year holiday on the 5th.

◆ Expanded Operation of the Comprehensive Civil Complaints Situation Room During the Lunar New Year Holiday

According to the city, a comprehensive situation room has been in operation for two weeks starting from the 1st. During the Lunar New Year holiday period from the 11th to the 14th, it will be expanded to cover five areas: COVID-19, emergency medical care, cleaning and environment, disaster safety, and transportation. In particular, the disaster situation room will operate 24 hours a day to ensure the safety of citizens.

About 300 public officials will be on standby in the comprehensive situation room. They will focus on inspecting compliance with quarantine rules at high-risk facilities such as karaoke rooms and PC rooms, large-scale retail stores like hypermarkets and department stores, traditional markets, religious facilities, logistics facilities, and delivery centers.

Additionally, the Goyang City Civil Complaints Call Center (031-909-9000) and unmanned civil complaint issuance machines will operate from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

◆ 'Vehicle Odd-Even System' Implemented for Visits to Cemeteries and Columbariums in Goyang City

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, Goyang City will close eight private columbariums within the city and, in consultation with Seoul City, four others including Seunghwawon Columbarium from the 11th to the 14th. The list of closed facilities can be found on the Goyang City Hall website (www.goyang.go.kr).

Indoor funeral facilities that remain open will implement a voluntary vehicle odd-even system to prevent visitor congestion. Additionally, ritual rooms and family rest areas will be closed, indoor food consumption will be completely prohibited, and safety measures such as the installation of a Safe Call visitor management system and thermal imaging cameras will be enforced.

For outdoor funeral facilities such as public and communal cemeteries, the city will provide guidance through promotional banners, the website, road electronic signboards, and text messages to encourage compliance with the vehicle odd-even system, restraint in visiting graves, and staggered visits.

Furthermore, 47 city-operated public parking lots and six consigned parking lots in Goyang will be free of charge, and real-time traffic information will be provided via the city’s traffic information center website, social media, and road electronic signboards.

◆ Operation of Emergency Clinics and Nine Screening Clinics... Airport Pickup Bus for Overseas Arrivals Runs Until the 14th

During the Lunar New Year holiday, a 'Emergency Medical Situation Room' will be operated at health centers, with simple medical services available on specific days: Deogyang District Health Center on the 11th, Ilsanseo District Health Center on the 12th, and Ilsandong District Health Center on the 13th. Forty-eight hospitals and clinics and 108 pharmacies will also operate on designated days. Information can be confirmed on the city website, through the civil complaints call center (031-909-9000), and at health centers.

To facilitate rapid COVID-19 testing, nine screening clinics will be operated at key locations. These include ▲Deogyang District Health Center ▲Ilsandong District Health Center ▲Ilsanseo District Health Center ▲Hwajeong Station Temporary Screening Clinic ▲Garamoe Temporary Screening Clinic ▲Jeongbalsan Station Temporary Screening Clinic ▲Ilsan Station Temporary Screening Clinic ▲National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital ▲Myongji Hospital of the Medical Corporation Myongji Medical Foundation.

Additionally, safe accommodations for families of self-quarantined individuals and residential treatment centers for mild confirmed cases will operate normally. Notably, the 'Safe Pickup Bus' service, which safely transports Goyang citizens arriving from overseas from the airport to safe accommodations (screening and waiting centers), will be available until the 14th.

Nursing hospitals and care facilities for the elderly will prohibit external visitors during the holiday, conduct regular screening tests (PCR), and prevent group infections through continuous monitoring by about 130 dedicated public officials.

◆ Strict Crackdown on Illegal Waste Dumping... Thorough Prevention of Safety Accidents at Multi-use Facilities

Household waste and food waste should be disposed of between sunset and sunrise on the 10th and 14th, with concentrated collection on the following days, the 11th and 15th.

A cleaning task force will operate to receive complaints and strictly crack down on illegal waste dumping. Reporting numbers can be found on the Goyang City website. Additionally, to prevent illegal dumping in traffic congestion areas, crackdowns will continue until the 14th.

To prevent safety accidents related to fire and electricity, joint public-private inspections will be conducted at six large discount stores. Intensive disinfection will be carried out at pig farms and migratory bird habitats to thoroughly prevent livestock infectious diseases such as African swine fever, avian influenza, and foot-and-mouth disease.

◆ Provision of Emergency Living Funds and Special Closure Support Funds for Small Business Owners and Vulnerable Groups

Meanwhile, ahead of the holiday, Goyang City is injecting 100 million won donated by citizens from all walks of life to provide 500,000 won each as 'Emergency Living Funds' to households with middle income at or below 120% who are economically struggling, including small business owners and labor-vulnerable groups. Applications can be submitted at the district administrative welfare centers until the 8th.

The Gyeonggi Province Disaster Basic Income, which provides 100,000 won per person to all citizens, has been accepting online applications and offering a 'visiting application service' for vulnerable groups since the 1st, and in-person applications can be made at district administrative welfare centers starting March 1.

Meanwhile, the 'Goyang City 2nd Special Closure Support Fund,' which supports industries affected by social distancing-related gathering bans and business restrictions, will announce detailed guidelines and open applications through the website once the revised budget passes on the 5th.

Mayor Lee Jae-jun stated, "Although COVID-19 confirmed cases are being managed at around 400, the situation remains critical. The Lunar New Year holiday, when millions of people travel and family gatherings increase, will be a crucial turning point," urging compliance with quarantine rules.