What to Do at the COVID-19 'Alert Level'? ... Songpa-gu Implements COVID-19 Infectious Disease Crisis Alert Level Manuals

Current 'Alert' Level △Recommendation to Close Community Centers △Refrain from Various Meetings (Events) △Disinfection at Resident Centers △Saemaeul Disinfection Volunteer Team Activities △Daily Reporting of District Measures

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Songpa-gu (Mayor Park Seong-su) has created and is implementing a "Response Manual for Preventing the Spread of COVID-19," which includes operational guidelines according to the infectious disease crisis alert levels.

Amid growing concerns about community transmission as the infection routes of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) remain unidentified, the Songpa-gu Autonomous Administration Division explained that it has produced a COVID-19 response manual utilizing the community service centers.

Songpa-gu is the largest autonomous district in Seoul in terms of population as well as the number of administrative neighborhoods (27 dong).

The manual contains response measures for community service centers and others according to the four infectious disease crisis alert levels: Interest, Caution, Alert, and Serious.

At the "Interest" stage, when a new infectious disease occurs overseas, it requires detecting signs and checking preparedness plans. At the "Caution" stage, when the new infectious disease overseas has entered the country, a cooperation system is activated to prepare and implement quarantine measures during various meetings (events), and to identify the status of quarantine supplies such as masks and hand sanitizers by neighborhood.

At the "Alert" stage, when the overseas new infectious disease that has entered the country spreads to other regions, the manual calls for △ recommending closure of community centers △ refraining from various meetings (events) △ conducting disinfection of community service centers △ carrying out disinfection volunteer activities by the Saemaeul disinfection volunteer corps △ daily reporting of measures by neighborhood.

The current COVID-19 crisis alert level is "Alert."

At the "Serious" stage, when the overseas new infectious disease spreads nationwide, the manual mandates △ complete prohibition of community centers and all events (meetings) △ suspension of face-to-face administrative services for residents △ consideration of closing community service centers in contaminated areas.

In practice, Songpa-gu has suspended the operation of community center programs and senior welfare centers in all 27 neighborhoods according to the manual.

Additionally, it is promoting completion of disinfection at each community service center, supporting disinfection activities by the Saemaeul volunteer corps (organized in 20 neighborhoods), fully suspending fact-finding investigations using neighborhood leaders, and conducting public relations to prevent the spread of anxiety among residents.

Especially as the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on the 18th that a new phase has been reached, Songpa-gu decided to re-close multi-use facilities to preemptively block community transmission. Facilities such as Songpa Sports and Culture Center, Songpa Women's Culture Center, Songpa Book Museum, Youth Center, and senior centers, which had resumed operations from the 16th, will be temporarily closed until the end of February.

Also, additional disinfection will be conducted at all 392 daycare centers in the district that completed disinfection in early February, and disinfection will be carried out at five major traditional markets.

Park Seong-su, Mayor of Songpa-gu, stated, "We are making every effort to preemptively block community transmission through the closure of multi-use facilities and thorough disinfection work," and added, "We ask everyone to focus on preventing infectious diseases by managing personal hygiene and adhering to prevention guidelines."

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