Seoul City Provides Quarantine Supplies to 20,000 Disabled Activity Support Workers... 1.6 Million Masks Distributed

Distribution of 129 Full-Body Protection Sets to Activity Support Agencies for COVID-19 Self-Quarantine Care
Protecting Essential Workers from Infectious Disease Risks to Ensure Uninterrupted Disability Care Services

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Seoul City announced on the 25th that it will provide masks and full-body protective sets to 20,000 disability care workers through 25 autonomous districts and 168 care service agencies to help daily life activities of persons with disabilities and respond to COVID-19 infections.

Care workers are essential laborers who act as the hands and feet of persons with disabilities, continuing uninterrupted care services even during the disaster situation of COVID-19. Since they directly care for health-vulnerable and high-risk persons with disabilities up close, wearing masks and adhering to quarantine rules are of utmost importance to prevent COVID-19 infections among both care workers and persons with disabilities.

According to statistics identified by Seoul City, from January to May 2021, 34 care workers and persons with disabilities related to disability activity support services were confirmed COVID-19 positive, and 117 individuals were placed under self-quarantine. When persons with disabilities living alone or with severe disabilities are self-quarantined, it is difficult to find substitute care workers, which can place those needing care in serious hardship.

Seoul City plans to support full-body protective sets to 129 care service agencies with more than 50 users, so that when care demand arises from self-quarantined persons with disabilities, quarantine supplies can be promptly provided to assist in connecting substitute care workers. The full-body protective sets, distributed to substitute care workers or family members performing alternative care, consist of full-body protective suits, face shields, latex gloves, and masks, protecting care service providers from the risk of COVID-19 infection.

Currently, a total of 3,300 full-body protective sets have been distributed to 129 care service agencies and are stocked as reserve supplies at each agency. They will be promptly provided to disability care service providers as needed.

Additionally, masks, which have become essential daily items, will be provided in a total of 1.6 million pieces (80 pieces per person) to 20,000 disability care workers. Seoul City has allocated a project budget of 555 million KRW to 25 autonomous districts, and the masks will be distributed to 20,000 Seoul care workers through 168 care service agencies by July.

Kim Seon-soon, Director of Welfare Policy, stated, “Until the complete end of COVID-19, we cannot lower our guard against the infection risk for health-vulnerable persons with disabilities.” She added, “Seoul City will continue to pay close attention and provide support for the supply of quarantine supplies and daily quarantine measures to prevent care gaps and infections among persons with disabilities and care workers.”