Seongdong-gu Establishes Comprehensive Response System to Prepare for COVID-19 Resurgence During Vacation Season

[Seoul District News] Seongdong-gu Increases COVID Response Staff, Sets Up Temporary Screening Clinics, Establishes Hotline with Local Medical Institutions ... Yangcheon-gu Operates Self-Monitoring for High-Risk COVID-19 Home Treatment Patients ... Seongbuk-gu Signs 'School Sports Facility Opening Support Agreement' with Middle and High Schools

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jung Won-oh) has recently established a comprehensive rapid response system including PCR testing, epidemiological investigations, home treatment, and call centers in preparation for the spread of COVID-19.

In response to concerns about the recent resurgence of COVID-19, the district quickly formulated a rapid response plan and reinforced a total of 26 additional personnel across various COVID-19 response sectors that had been previously reduced. ▲ Screening clinics increased from 12 to 19 (7 additional staff) ▲ Epidemiological investigation from 9 to 19 (10 additional staff) ▲ Home treatment management from 8 to 11 (3 additional staff) ▲ Call center operation from 8 to 14 (6 additional staff). By increasing response personnel, the district has established a system capable of promptly responding even if more than 1,000 confirmed cases occur locally. It also proactively prepares for the government-predicted peak of confirmed cases (approximately 250,000 to 300,000 nationwide) by forecasting early upward trends and reinforcing additional personnel.

Seongdong-gu has extended the operating hours of the public health center screening clinic, which previously operated until 1 PM on Saturdays and holidays, to run from 9 AM to 6 PM since July 25, providing testing convenience to local residents. The temporary screening clinic was also promptly opened on July 25 next to the district office (basketball court), operating from 1 PM to 9 PM on weekdays and from 9 AM to 6 PM on Sundays, enabling residents who find it difficult to get tested during daytime due to work to receive tests in the evening, thus establishing a seamless testing system.

Additionally, a real-time waiting status system has been introduced and is operated at the clinics, allowing residents to check the waiting status in advance on the Seongdong-gu website even during heatwaves or rainy weather before visiting.

In particular, the district provides one set (2 pieces) of self-test kits per person at the temporary screening clinics for residents to proactively test themselves when symptomatic, and starting from the 8th, self-test kits will also be distributed at each neighborhood community center.

From August 1, following the government's policy to abolish the distinction between intensive and general management groups for home treatment patients, the district has established a hotline with local medical institutions to monitor the health status of confirmed cases in the early stages and prepare for emergencies involving symptom deterioration and previously intensive management groups.

This measure aims to prevent severe illness and death among the elderly aged 60 and above and other previously intensive management groups. Furthermore, a 24-hour home treatment management team continues to operate, actively responding to emergencies such as linking to hospitals in case of severe cases during nighttime.

The district has designated and operates a total of 62 'one-stop medical institutions' where COVID-19 testing, face-to-face treatment, and prescriptions can be completed in one place. A constant communication system with public health centers is also established for real-time monitoring of severe cases during treatment at medical institutions. The one-stop medical institutions are also actively promoted through the Seongdong-gu website, blog, and social media.

Believing that prevention is the most important treatment, the district is accelerating its vaccination campaign. To proactively respond to severe illness and death among high-risk groups, from August 1, medical staff from Seongdong-gu Public Health Center are visiting infection-vulnerable facilities (nursing homes, homeless shelters, facilities for the disabled) sequentially to vaccinate residents and workers. Additionally, vaccination is being promoted and encouraged among unvaccinated individuals eligible for the fourth dose.

The district also continues the 'Recovery Support Package' project for home treatment patients, expressing wishes for their speedy recovery. This project was initiated by Seongdong-gu to support residents struggling with COVID-19, recently standardizing the package to popular quarantine supplies and ready meals, which has increased resident satisfaction. The district plans to continue this project until the COVID-19 spread subsides.

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, stated, “In preparation for the resurgence of COVID-19 during the summer vacation season, the district has established rapid response systems across all sectors and will focus all efforts on preventing community spread.” He added, “Since the government's quarantine response goal is to maintain the daily recovery trend while minimizing severe cases and deaths, we ask all residents to comply with personal quarantine rules and contribute to infectious disease prevention.”

Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Lee Ki-jae) will operate its own monitoring system for high-risk COVID-19 home treatment patients in preparation for the abolition of the distinction between intensive and general management groups under the government’s home treatment system reform starting August 1.

High-risk elderly patients may suddenly worsen during isolation, and especially for elderly living alone without cohabitants, rapid response can be difficult, placing them in urgent situations. Therefore, the district aims to thoroughly prevent severe illness and death among high-risk COVID-19 patients through its own monitoring.

The monitoring targets are home treatment patients aged 70 and above. From August until the COVID-19 spread stabilizes, a dedicated home treatment team of 13 members will conduct telephone monitoring. Mild patients and elderly living with caregivers will be monitored once on the first day, while elderly living alone and severe patients will be monitored at least twice during the isolation period as special management targets.

Through monitoring, the home treatment team provides ▲ guidance on using respiratory patient treatment centers and medical institutions ▲ emergency call information available 24 hours in case of symptom worsening ▲ follow-up actions such as emergency transport coordinated with 119 and hospital bed allocation in urgent situations. Additionally, for patients with mobility difficulties requiring outpatient treatment, private EMS ambulances are arranged, and quick delivery is supported for those who have difficulty receiving prescribed medication after non-face-to-face treatment.

Lee Ki-jae, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, said, “We will do our best to proactively eliminate blind spots in management and help the rapid recovery of high-risk groups through health monitoring and rapid response for high-risk COVID-19 patients.”

Seongbuk-gu (Mayor Lee Seung-ro) is seeing multiple benefits from sharing school sports facilities.

On the 1st, Seongbuk-gu signed a 'School Sports Facility Opening Support Agreement' at Seongbuk-gu Office with Seokgwan High School (Principal Lim Yoo-won) and Seoul National University Affiliated Middle School (Principal Lee Wook-hee).

A Seongbuk-gu official said, “With the easing of social distancing, there is a surge in demand for recreational sports. We expect to support school sports facility renovation on the condition of opening them to residents and to utilize these spaces for recreational sports.”

Under the agreement, Seongbuk-gu will provide funding for facility improvement projects to schools, which will complete renovation of playgrounds and then open the school sports facilities to local residents. Residents have responded positively, appreciating the creation of nearby and safe recreational sports spaces. Schools also welcome the support for facility renovation, which allows students to use the facilities safely and benefits school finances.

Lee Seung-ro, Mayor of Seongbuk-gu, emphasized, “Opening school sports facilities is expected to greatly contribute to improving residents’ health and activating recreational sports. The administration, schools, and community have established a shared and cooperative system, achieving multiple benefits including significant budget savings.”