Elderly in Vulnerable Groups in Geumcheon-gu to Change Masks Daily

Geumcheon-gu Provides Quarantine Supplies to Vulnerable Groups and Essential Workers... Over 29,000 Vulnerable Individuals and Essential Workers, 4,900 Multi-use Facilities... Distribution Starts May 17 via Relevant Associations, Organizations, and Distribution Points

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Elderly resident A in Siheung-dong, Geumcheon-gu, who collects waste paper in the neighborhood, also continues to use dirty masks because he finds it a waste to spend money on masks.

Also, Mr. B, who runs a shoe repair shop on Siheung-daero in Doksan-dong, rarely changes his mask stained with shoe polish.

This is mainly because using masks that cost about 1,000 won each every day is burdensome.

Geumcheon-gu (Mayor Yoo Seong-hoon) will implement a quarantine supplies support project for vulnerable groups starting from the 17th to ensure a comfortable life for essential social workers and prevent group infections in multi-use facilities.

As part of the Seoul Metropolitan Government and autonomous districts' COVID-19 support projects for affected groups, the district will provide quarantine supplies such as masks and hand sanitizers to about 29,000 essential social workers vulnerable to quarantine and about 4,900 multi-use facilities that require focused quarantine.

Although there have been various support projects so far, the district has carefully identified groups and facilities that were excluded from support or had difficulty purchasing quarantine supplies.

Accordingly, an emergency budget of about 590 million won from the disaster contingency fund will be invested, providing individuals with quarantine supplies worth up to 50,000 won per person and facilities or businesses with up to 500,000 won per location.

By target group, 140 million won will be provided to about 30,000 essential social workers and blind spots in quarantine support, including ▲ sanitation workers ▲ corporate and individual taxi and freight transport workers ▲ construction workers ▲ operators of street business facilities ▲ and workers in sewing factories.

Due to business losses caused by compliance with social distancing quarantine rules, 280 million won will be provided to 2,869 locations including ▲ 350 religious facilities ▲ 2,500 food service establishments such as restaurants and cafes ▲ and 19 public hygiene businesses such as bathhouses.

Quarantine supplies worth about 74 million won will be provided to about 1,200 multi-use facilities where group infections are a concern, including ▲ 100 knowledge industry centers ▲ 1,000 traditional markets and nearby shopping districts ▲ public and private kindergartens ▲ elderly home care facilities ▲ and 80 welfare facilities for the disabled.

The district plans to distribute quarantine supplies to recipients starting from the end of May by designating related associations, organizations, and distribution bases as distribution points.

Yoo Seong-hoon, Mayor of Geumcheon-gu, said, “I want to offer a small help so that essential workers who do indispensable work in our society can work in a more comfortable and healthy environment. Despite difficulties in operating facilities due to compliance with quarantine rules, I want to express gratitude by supporting quarantine supplies to multi-use facility operators who have worked hard to prevent infectious diseases.”