Gangdong-gu, Full Effort to Prevent Additional COVID-19 Confirmed Cases

Formation of On-Site Task Force for Gu and Myeongseong Church, Temporary On-Site Screening Clinic Established at Myeongseong Church... Extensive Disinfection Around Myeongil-dong Near Myeongseong Church on the 26th

Lee Jeong-hoon, Mayor of Gangdong-gu, is holding an emergency briefing on additional COVID-19 confirmed cases at the Gangdong-gu Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters at 11:30 AM on the 25th.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Gangdong-gu (District Mayor Lee Jeong-hoon) will make every effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the community following the confirmation of 2 additional COVID-19 cases in the area on the 25th.

Until now, there were 2 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Gangdong-gu: a 62-year-old male, known as the second infected patient at Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital (hereafter Eunpyeong St. Mary's) in Eunpyeong-gu on the 22nd, and a 66-year-old male caregiver working at Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital. However, with 2 additional confirmed cases, the total number of COVID-19 patients in Gangdong-gu is now 4.

According to the briefing given by Lee Jeong-hoon, Mayor of Gangdong-gu, at 11:30 a.m. on the 25th titled "COVID-19 Test Results and Future Measures for the Associate Pastor of Myeongseong Church," the 2 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases in Gangdong-gu are Associate Pastor A (53, male) of Myeongseong Church and B (22, female), a missionary's child and acquaintance of Associate Pastor A.

A is presumed to have been exposed to COVID-19 after attending a funeral of a Myeongseong Church member’s family held at the Nonghyup Funeral Hall of Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo, Gyeongbuk, on the 14th.

B, who resides overseas, temporarily returned to Korea and stayed at A’s house. Currently, the 2 confirmed patients have been transferred to Hanil Hospital in Dobong-gu and Chung-Ang University Hospital in Dongjak-gu, respectively, for isolation treatment. Their confirmed movement paths have been disclosed on the Gangdong-gu website. More detailed movement paths will be promptly released on the district website as soon as the epidemiological investigation results from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency are available.

Upon confirmation of the COVID-19 cases on the 25th, the district immediately convened the Gangdong-gu Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters to establish a response system for the additional confirmed cases.

First, to prevent community spread of COVID-19, an on-site task force for Myeongseong Church will be formed, and a temporary on-site screening clinic will be set up at Myeongseong Church on the 26th.

Additionally, 13 more telephones have been installed at the Gangdong-gu Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, and a dedicated call center (☎3425-8570) related to Myeongseong Church (COVID-19) is operating, establishing a 24-hour emergency response system.

The temporary on-site screening clinic will primarily operate based on the list of 348 first-degree close contacts identified at Myeongseong Church. This measure aims to minimize the movement of these test subjects to reduce the risk of infection to local residents.

Furthermore, the district plans to conduct a thorough investigation of the list of individuals at risk of infection beyond the first-degree close contacts, maintaining close cooperation with Myeongseong Church and taking all possible measures.

In preparation for an increase in COVID-19 test subjects, the district will operate the temporary on-site screening clinic in cooperation with local hospitals, Gangdong Kyunghee University Hospital and Gangdong Sacred Heart Hospital.

Currently, Myeongseong Church remains closed until it is deemed safe on the 25th, with all worship services, including Sunday services, suspended and replaced by video broadcasts (YouTube C Channel).

Moreover, the district completed disinfection of Myeongseong Church, Amsa-dong Fryer Palace, Myeongil Market, and surrounding areas on the 25th. On the 26th, a large-scale simultaneous disinfection will be conducted throughout Gangdong-gu, centered on Myeongil-dong, involving the district’s disinfection team, residents, and public officials.

The district plans to actively respond to the COVID-19 infectious disease by allocating 2 billion KRW from the contingency budget for focused operation of screening clinics, enhanced disinfection, and expanded promotion of personal hygiene rules related to COVID-19.

Lee Jeong-hoon, Mayor of Gangdong-gu, stated, “We will take all possible measures related to COVID-19 to block community infection to the greatest extent possible,” and added, “We ask residents to actively cooperate with disinfection efforts by refraining from outside activities as much as possible.”

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