Chairman Choi Hojung Visits Elderly Care Facilities Vulnerable to COVID-19 Ahead of Chuseok

On-site Inspection of 'Siril Dongbu Senior Specialized Nursing Center,' the Municipal Nursing Facility with the Highest Number of Elderly Residents

Choi Hojung, Chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, visited the Seoul Eastern Senior Specialized Nursing Center, the municipal nursing facility with the highest number of elderly residents, on the 6th ahead of Chuseok to comfort and encourage patients and staff, and urged proactive management and response from the Seoul city government.

This visit was arranged to assess the situation at elderly nursing facilities, where vulnerable groups at high risk of severe illness are concentrated, amid growing public anxiety due to the recent resurgence of COVID-19.

The Seoul Eastern Senior Specialized Nursing Center (Majang-ro, Seongdong-gu) operates care for elderly patients with dementia and stroke, as well as a daycare center, currently serving 296 users. It is the largest among the 11 municipal senior specialized nursing centers.

On average, 150 family members visit the center on weekdays and 300 on weekends. Approximately 1,000 visitors are expected during the Chuseok holiday. Given the high number of visitors, the center plans to enforce even stricter quarantine measures.

Chairperson Choi said, “Despite the many concerns arising from the resurgence of COVID-19, I deeply appreciate the staff who sincerely care for the elderly,” and added, “We will continuously monitor and support to ensure that quarantine measures at elderly nursing facilities and other vulnerable infection facilities are proactively and thoroughly implemented.”