Gwangjin-gu Prevents COVID Resurgence... Actively Promotes COVID Prevention Guidelines

[Seoul District News] Gwangjin-gu Provides COVID-19 Response Guidelines and Vacation Season Quarantine Rules; Expands 4th Vaccine Shots, Maintains 7-Day Mandatory Isolation; Designates One-Stop Medical Institutions and Operates High-Risk Group Fast-Track Procedures... Gangnam-gu Supports SMEs and Small Business Owners with 10 Billion Won Loan Assistance

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gwangjin-gu (District Mayor Kim Kyung-ho) has launched a campaign to raise residents' awareness by promoting COVID-19 response measures and quarantine guidelines.

Currently, confirmed cases must undergo a mandatory 7-day quarantine, but this will be readjusted and reviewed depending on the scale of the outbreak and the timing of the peak.

Additionally, the district plans to expand the 4th COVID-19 vaccination to prevent further spread. Eligible recipients include people in their 50s (born on or before December 31, 1972), 18-year-olds with underlying health conditions, and residents, inpatients, and workers in infection-vulnerable facilities.

The vaccination interval is 4 months after the 3rd dose, and vaccinations can be received with Pfizer, Moderna, or Novavax vaccines at 125 designated medical institutions in the area and at the Gwangjin-gu Public Health Center (for infection-vulnerable facilities).

From July 18, advance reservations can be made through the website and 15 community centers. Same-day vaccinations are available only for leftover vaccines. From August 1, scheduled vaccinations will be conducted.

The names of medical institutions previously responsible for COVID-19 testing, diagnosis, and prescriptions?such as ▲Respiratory Specialized Clinics ▲Designated Respiratory Medical Institutions ▲Medical Treatment Centers?will be integrated and operated under the name ‘Respiratory Patient Treatment Centers.’

At the ‘Respiratory Patient Treatment Centers,’ face-to-face treatment for both COVID and non-COVID diseases is possible, and if necessary, two oral treatments (Paxlovid, Lagevrio) can be prescribed.

Alongside this, one-stop medical institutions that provide COVID testing, diagnosis, and treatment prescriptions all at once are designated and operated. Currently, there are 85 one-stop medical institutions, which can be checked on the Gwangjin-gu Office website (Participation & Communication - COVID-19 - Situation Guide). However, reservations and confirmation of treatment availability must be made in advance at both Respiratory Patient Treatment Centers and one-stop medical institutions.

High-risk groups such as those aged 60 and over, immunocompromised individuals, and residents of infection-vulnerable facilities are subject to a ‘High-Risk Group Fast Track’ procedure that enables rapid progression from testing to diagnosis, prescription, and hospitalization.

Overseas arrivals are currently required to undergo PCR testing within 3 days of entry, but from July 25, PCR testing must be conducted on the first day of entry.

Furthermore, the district is actively providing guidance on daily quarantine measures in preparation for the vacation season. Masks must be worn at tourist spots, vacation destinations, offices, and crowded outdoor places.

Also, masks must be worn at events or festivals with 50 or more people regardless of indoor or outdoor settings, and activities that cause droplet spread should be avoided in multi-use facilities.

When using facilities such as museums and art galleries, advance reservations should be utilized, gatherings in the 3Cs (closed spaces, crowded places, close-contact settings) should be avoided, and at places with many people, a distance of at least 1 meter should be maintained.

In particular, for the summer vacation season, it is recommended to travel in small family groups, avoid crowded places and times, and maintain at least 1 meter distance when playing in water or using parasols. For inquiries, residents can contact the Gwangjin-gu Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Call Center.

Kim Kyung-ho, Mayor of Gwangjin-gu, said, “With the overlap of the COVID-19 resurgence and vacation season, concerns about infection spread are increasing. I hope everyone thoroughly understands and follows daily quarantine measures to have a healthy and safe summer.”

Gangnam-gu (District Mayor Cho Sung-myung) will implement a 10 billion KRW loan support project from the 20th to assist small and medium-sized enterprises and small business owners struggling due to the economic downturn and interest rate hikes.

The support targets businesses located in Gangnam-gu that have been registered for more than one year. The loan limit is 300 million KRW for corporate businesses and 50 million KRW for individual businesses. A fixed interest rate of 0.8% per annum will be fully supported interest-free for one year, with a one-year grace period followed by four years of equal installment repayments.

Applications are accepted from the 20th to August 5th. Interested businesses should prepare loan application forms, business plans, and other documents and visit the loan reception desk at the basement level 1 of the second annex building of the district office academy education center to apply in person. For more details, check the district office website or contact the Regional Economy Division.

In the first half of this year, the district supported 259 businesses with 10 billion KRW in loans and is also conducting a ‘Commercial Bank Loan Interest Support Project’ that subsidizes part of the bank loan interest (up to 2.5%). The interest support amount has been significantly increased from 1 billion KRW last year to 4.5 billion KRW this year, supporting interest on a total of 180 billion KRW in bank loans.

Cho Sung-myung, Mayor of Gangnam-gu, said, “Under the 8th elected administration, Gangnam-gu will continue to provide multifaceted support to stabilize the management of small and medium-sized enterprises and small business owners. I hope many people participate in this support project and benefit from it.”