Seongdong-gu Issues Administrative Order for All Academy Workers to Undergo COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing

Administrative Order for COVID-19 Testing Compliance for All Academy Workers in the Area from the 6th to the 12th... Applies to Instructors (Including Native Speakers), Office Staff, and Drivers at 289 Registered Academies

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jeong Won-oh) has issued an administrative order for COVID-19 diagnostic testing compliance targeting all academy workers in the district from the 6th to the 12th of this month.

The subjects include all instructors (including native speakers), office staff, vehicle drivers, and related personnel working at the 289 academies registered with the Seongdong-Gwangjin Office of Education as of the end of June this year.

The district carefully reviewed the recent spread of cluster infections originating from English academies in the Gyeonggi area and the consecutive confirmed cases and transmission incidents occurring in local schools and academy districts. Although diagnostic testing was recommended for major academies starting from the 28th of last month, due to increasing concerns about infections in the academy sector, the district has proactively implemented an administrative order for diagnostic testing covering all academies and their workers in the area.

Failure to comply with the administrative order may result in a fine of up to 2 million KRW, and if a confirmed case occurs at a workplace where a violating worker is employed, causing further spread of infection, the district may seek compensation claims against that worker.

However, those who have completed COVID-19 vaccination or are at least two weeks past their first dose, and those who have undergone diagnostic testing voluntarily or as recommended by Seongdong-gu since the 28th of last month, are exempted.

Seongdong-gu operates screening clinics and temporary screening testing sites at the public health center, providing free diagnostic tests. Infection status can be confirmed via text message within 24 hours after testing.

Detailed operating hours can be found on the Seongdong-gu Office website.

Meanwhile, from the 12th of this month, the temporary screening testing site at Seongsu Handmade Shoe Theme Park, which was previously operated, will resume operations and expand facilities to actively respond to the sharp increase in confirmed cases requiring diagnostic testing.

Jeong Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, stated, “We have implemented this administrative order for diagnostic testing to proactively block the spread of COVID-19 infections that are increasingly occurring in daily life, such as in academy districts. We will continue to prepare active measures and do our best to protect our residents, including our children, from COVID-19 infections.”