Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Increases COVID-19 Epidemiological Investigation Police Personnel to 103... "Strengthening Collaboration with Local Governments"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency will increase the number of epidemiological investigation support personnel in Seoul to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

On the 5th, the Seoul Police Agency stated, "Recently, due to the surge in demand for diagnostic testing caused by the spread of COVID-19 in Seoul, the Seoul Metropolitan Government requested additional epidemiological investigation support from the police agency. Accordingly, starting from the 12th support phase beginning on the 6th, the number of epidemiological investigation personnel has been increased to a total of 103. The working period has also been extended from the previous 3 weeks to 3 months."

The police have been supporting available personnel at quarantine sites, including vaccine transportation and storage safety management, joint inspections and crackdowns on quarantine rule violations, and recently supporting local governments in alcohol crackdown operations at Hangang Park. In particular, since the first epidemiological investigation field support in December last year, a total of 771 police officers have been deployed to health centers in each autonomous district over 11 phases to carry out epidemiological investigations and field accompaniment duties.

Chief Choi Kwan-ho said, "The COVID-19 crisis and the implementation of the autonomous police system have made organic cooperation between the police and local governments even more essential," emphasizing, "Cooperation with local governments is indispensable to provide faster and higher-quality public safety services." He added, "We will continue to firmly strengthen the cooperative system with local governments to ensure the safety of citizens."