Gangdong-gu, All-Out Effort for Proactive Response to Novel Coronavirus... Maintaining 24-Hour Emergency Response System

Operation of fever check booths at health centers, installation of thermal cameras, disinfection of multi-use facilities, emergency supplies support, promotion of braille and sign language interpretation for information blind spots, and full-scale response... Hospitals, related organizations, and residents unite as one community with wholehearted efforts

Lee Jeong-hoon, Mayor of Gangdong-gu, visited the screening clinic at Gangdong Kyung Hee University Hospital on the 5th to inspect the on-site response system.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Jeong-hoon) is strengthening its response system to prevent the inflow and spread of the novel coronavirus infection (hereinafter referred to as "novel coronavirus") in the region, anticipating a prolonged outbreak.

Immediately after the infectious disease crisis level was raised to "alert" on January 28, the district formed a Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters led by the mayor. Every day at 9 a.m., the district holds an emergency daily situation briefing on the novel coronavirus to check the current status and devise countermeasures. The public health center and screening clinics have entered a 24-hour emergency response system.

Thermal imaging cameras have been installed in the first-floor lobbies of each district office building, the public health center, and the district council to strengthen early detection of individuals suspected of having a fever. Departments with direct public contact, field workers, and facility managers are required to wear protective masks during working hours to thoroughly prevent the spread of the infection.

In particular, a fever screening booth has been set up in front of the public health center’s main entrance to carefully monitor the health status of visiting residents. Through initial screening, suspected patients are classified to take proactive early measures to block the spread of the infection at an early stage.

The district secured 71,200 masks, 1,500 hand sanitizers, and 400 non-contact thermometers, which were urgently distributed to welfare facilities such as senior citizen centers and facilities for the disabled, as well as to vulnerable groups like elderly living alone. One-on-one monitoring of self-quarantined individuals in the region is conducted, and emergency supplies including bottled water, rice, ramen, and instant meals have been delivered to support their livelihoods.

Additionally, from the 6th to the 11th, disinfection was carried out at a total of 409 facilities in the region, including daycare centers, senior citizen centers, traditional markets, public restrooms, and cultural and sports facilities to prevent the novel coronavirus. The district plans to continue disinfection efforts by purchasing additional thermometers and hand sanitizers for distribution to daycare centers and other facilities.

Prevention is the most important law to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus! The district’s website provides real-time updates on self-quarantined individuals and active monitoring cases, along with preventive measures. Information is immediately shared through official SNS channels, online newspapers, outdoor electronic billboards, and media boards.

The district office’s phone hold message has also been changed to a voice guide on the novel coronavirus response.

To make it easy for residents to access information in daily life, banners, posters, and leaflets are displayed and stocked at local hubs and community service centers. Promotional placards are attached to 43 village buses and 160 city buses to inform the public about preventive measures.

Braille promotional materials on preventive measures were produced in-house and distributed to welfare centers for the visually impaired. Sign language interpretation videos for the hearing impaired are broadcast on the district website, internet broadcasting stations, and YouTube to ensure no blind spots in infection prevention guidance.

Preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus in the community requires voluntary activities not only from public officials but also from related organizations and residents.

The district is working closely with a network of local hospitals operating screening clinics at Gangdong-gu Public Health Center (45 Seongnae-ro / 3425-6655), Gangdong Kyung Hee University Hospital (892 Dongnam-ro / 440-7000), Gangdong Seongsim Hospital (150 Seongan-ro / 2224-2114), and Central Veterans Hospital (53 Jinhwangdo-ro 61-gil / 2225-1111) to provide care for suspected patients and prevent infection routes.

On the 6th, the Seoul Regional Headquarters of NongHyup donated masks worth approximately 4 million KRW, funded by about 50 farmers participating in the Seoul NongHyup direct transaction market.

Residents have also stepped up to prevent the novel coronavirus from entering the region. On the 3rd, members of the Cheonho 1-dong Autonomous Disaster Prevention Team, along with community center staff, distributed preventive action guidelines and disposable masks while patrolling commercial and residential areas in the district as part of the "Novel Coronavirus Prevention Campaign."

On the 8th, a voluntary disinfection team composed of members of the Gildong Saemaul Leaders Association and other residents disinfected areas around traditional markets and carried out disinfection at multi-use facilities such as senior citizen centers. The voluntary disinfection team will respond thoroughly wherever residents need them. For related inquiries, contact Gildong Community Service Center (☎3425-7852).

Sign Language Interpretation Video

In preparation for the potential spread of the novel coronavirus in the community, the district has secured about 200 employees as emergency duty personnel and provided training on fever screening methods, self-quarantine monitoring, and civil complaint response manuals, strengthening its role as a community disaster safety control tower.

Lee Jeong-hoon, Mayor of Gangdong-gu, said, “As signs of a prolonged novel coronavirus outbreak appear, residents’ anxiety is increasing, and the local economy is also being affected. Gangdong-gu is making every effort to prevent the novel coronavirus by uniting public institutions, related organizations, and residents. We will continue to carefully and meticulously protect the health and safety of residents in all areas.”

He also stated, “We are reviewing measures with the Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation Gangdong branch to support small business owners and self-employed individuals,” indicating efforts to stabilize the local economy.

The district urges residents to contact the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency call center (☎1339) or the public health center (☎3425-6713~5) if they experience major symptoms of the infection such as fever, cough, sore throat, or difficulty breathing.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.