Yeongdeungpo-gu Suspends Operation of 60 Multi-use Facilities to Prevent Coronavirus Spread

Published 31 Jan.2020 06:47(KST)

January 31?February 16: Closure of 60 District-Run Multi-Use Facilities Including Sports Centers and Cultural Centers... Temporary Suspension of Cultural Classes at Community Centers and Libraries... Notices and Hand Sanitizers Provided Inside Facilities... Large-Scale Cultural Events Such as Neighborhood New Year Meetings and Jeongwol Daeboreum Celebrations Postponed or Canceled

Yeongdeungpo 1st Sports Center

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Yeongdeungpo-gu (Mayor Chae Hyun-il) has taken a preemptive measure by suspending the operation of multi-use facilities including gyms and cultural events and classes to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (hereinafter referred to as the novel coronavirus).

The district judged that it is urgent to prepare safety measures for public facilities and places to prevent the secondary infection of the novel coronavirus, and decided to temporarily suspend the operation of 60 public multi-use facilities until the situation calms down.

Accordingly, from January 31 to February 16, five public sports facilities including the 1st and 2nd Sports Centers, Climbing Stadium, Badminton Gymnasium, and Daerim Sports Ground, as well as Yeongdeungpo Cultural Center and Yeongdeungpo Cultural Foundation, will be temporarily closed.

During the same period, 11 youth reading rooms operated by the Yeongdeungpo-gu Facilities Management Corporation will also be temporarily closed, and cultural lecture programs operated at four public libraries and 21 public small libraries will be suspended.

Additionally, 166 autonomous community center programs such as calligraphy classes operated in 18 neighborhoods and 17 fitness centers (gyms) will also cease operation from January 31.

The district also postponed the neighborhood New Year's meetings originally scheduled until the end of January and canceled the neighborhood Jeongwol Daeboreum (First Full Moon Festival) events planned for early February.

Furthermore, the district posted banners, posters, and signs at community centers and sports facilities to inform about the novel coronavirus prevention safety guidelines, conducted preventive education for employees, and prepared additional preventive measures such as providing hand sanitizers.

Even before confirmed cases occurred domestically, the district responded swiftly by establishing screening clinics and quarantine task forces, maintaining a 24-hour emergency contact system during the Lunar New Year holiday, focusing on blocking and preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus in the area.

Along with this, the district promoted safety guidelines proactively and aggressively to residents so that they themselves could be alert and participate in preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Currently, the district has formed and is operating a Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters chaired by the mayor, holding daily meetings on novel coronavirus-related measures, closely monitoring the rapidly changing domestic and international trends related to the novel coronavirus, and concentrating all efforts on local quarantine measures.

Chae Hyun-il, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, said, “We ask for the understanding and cooperation of all residents as various events and cultural classes have been canceled to completely block the possibility of the novel coronavirus spreading,” and added, “We will mobilize all administrative power with the highest priority on residents’ safety and respond with full force.”