Appointed in February as a COVID-19 Response Epidemiological Investigator... Difficult COVID-19-related complaints but residents' encouragement like "Thank you, you’re working hard" is the greatest support... After the COVID situation ends, "I want to try various tasks, anything"
Kim Soo-young, Yangcheon District Mayor, is encouraging rookie public officials working as epidemiological investigators on the 2nd.
Kim Soo-young, the Yangcheon District Mayor, recently presented commemorative postcards to congratulate new public officials on completing their probation period.
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Everyone has a first memory in life. Although unfamiliar and frightening, the first memory comes with newness and excitement, making it vivid and long-lasting?like a slow-motion scene.
In Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Kim Soo-young), there are 12 new public officials experiencing a uniquely unforgettable rookie life.
At the threshold of February, when the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, which began last December, was stabilizing and hope for vaccination was emerging, the first challenge for the 12 rookie public officials of Yangcheon-gu was responding to COVID-19.
The first task assigned to those dispatched to the public health center was epidemiological investigation following confirmed COVID-19 cases, mainly identifying the movement paths and contacts of confirmed patients. They were called ‘epidemiological investigators.’
Epidemiological investigators first conduct phone interviews to investigate basic information about symptom onset and cohabiting family members. They record the severity of symptoms, presence of underlying diseases, and whether there are cohabiting family members.
This is the basic epidemiological investigation. The in-depth epidemiological investigation involves tracing the confirmed patient’s specific movements?where they went, whom they met, and what activities they engaged in. Detailed work such as reviewing credit card transaction records and CCTV monitoring is also conducted during this process to prevent further transmission.
After identifying the movement paths, contacts are classified individually as self-quarantined, actively monitored, or simply tested, and each person is guided accordingly. Places visited by confirmed patients undergo disinfection measures.
Additionally, they handle system registration and various COVID-19-related civil affairs tasks.
There were cases where contacts exceeded 100 per confirmed patient, and difficult moments included feeling heartbroken when guiding daily wage workers to self-quarantine, and persuading residents who persistently requested shorter quarantine periods because they could not take exams due to isolation.
However, the greatest strength that has allowed them to keep going was, above all, a warm word. The biggest reward during their roughly six months as public officials was the residents’ encouraging words of “Thank you” and “You’re working hard.”
Although tension and stress accumulated as they quietly handled unfamiliar tasks in an unfamiliar work environment, the ‘empathy’ they encountered from someone was more touching and moving than any words.
Hong Dae-hyun, an administrative officer appointed in the social welfare sector, recalled, “I cannot forget the sound of family members crying over the phone when I called a mother to inform her of her young child’s positive diagnosis,” adding, “It was an experience that showed how differently the pandemic disaster weighs on each person.”
Son So-dam, an administrative officer, said, “COVID-19 was news I only heard about before. Although I started work with worry and tension, I feel rewarded because I can directly help residents on the front lines.”
Being new, they are clumsy and make many mistakes. They face new challenges daily, but their enthusiastic attitude to quickly learn the ‘professionalism’ of their senior colleagues in dealing with residents is more proactive than anyone else’s.
August 1 will mark the end of their probation period. After six months of probation following appointment, these officials hope most that “once the COVID-19 situation ends, they want to learn various tasks.” They also expressed a desire to “work with good team members.”
Life is often compared to a ‘road.’ When looking back from a train, the path appears winding, but while riding, it feels like going straight. Although we think we have lived uprightly, looking back reveals life’s twists and turns.
No one knows what future lies ahead for them. They may walk through beautiful flower paths or dark tunnels. But with the belief that “this crisis will surely end” and the positive energy to “cherish the current mindset for a long time,” their footsteps will become a landmark for others.
Kim Soo-young, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, said, “We aim to create an organizational culture of ‘unconditional love’ by communicating openly with the younger generation and listening to their stories,” adding, “I send my support and gratitude to the new public officials who are always working with a positive attitude despite difficult circumstances. I sincerely congratulate them on completing their probation.”
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