Gwangju Buk-gu's All-Out Effort to Prevent Community Spread of COVID-19

Expansion and Operation of Participation Response System at Dong Administrative Welfare Center

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yukbong] Buk-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City (District Mayor Moon In) is mobilizing all administrative efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the local community as the infectious disease crisis alert has been raised to the ‘serious’ level.

On the 26th, Buk-gu announced that, following the increase to 9 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Gwangju starting from the first confirmed patient on the 4th, it will expand and operate the existing Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters into a response system involving all departments and 27 Dong Administrative Welfare Centers with 7 response teams.

The emergency duty teams managing comprehensive situations such as one-on-one contact management, epidemiological investigations, and suspected patient transport will be increased from 2 departments to 4 departments, and the number of personnel on duty will be increased from 10 to 23 to operate 24 hours a day. Additionally, a response system will be established with related organizations such as Gwangju City, autonomous districts, Fire Safety Headquarters, and Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency to share situations in real time.

Currently, screening clinics are being operated at Buk-gu Public Health Center and Ilgok Hospital, and thermal imaging cameras have been installed at Gwangju Station and the district office entrance with dedicated personnel assigned for monitoring.

An emergency quarantine countermeasure team has been formed to strengthen disinfection at group facilities and multi-use facilities, and public officials of grade 6 or higher have been organized into one-on-one dedicated teams for self-quarantined individuals to focus on preventing further spread.

Resident autonomy programs conducted at Dong Administrative Welfare Centers and projects or events involving large numbers of participants have been postponed or canceled, and temporary closures of various public institutions such as district libraries, sports facilities, and social welfare facilities continue.

In particular, to support small business owners who are suffering severe difficulties due to this situation, a livelihood economy revitalization plan consisting of 24 tasks in 4 areas?▲consumption promotion ▲small business owners ▲small and medium enterprises ▲financial support?is being implemented.

Efforts are focused on stabilizing residents’ lives through support such as providing daily necessities and lunch boxes to self-quarantined individuals, distributing hand sanitizers and masks to participants in public sector job projects, supplying disinfectants to child welfare facilities, emergency childcare due to temporary closure of daycare centers, welfare checks for elderly living alone and vulnerable health groups, and application and reception of living expenses for hospitalized and quarantined individuals.

Preparing for the prolonged COVID-19 situation, the district plans to allocate budgets for early recovery such as operating screening clinics, facility disinfection, and support for small and medium enterprises and small business owners in the first supplementary budget of this year, and will promote rapid support measures together with the district council.

District Mayor Moon In said, “Until the COVID-19 infectious disease is completely eradicated, we will prioritize the safety of residents and mobilize all the district’s capabilities,” and added, “We ask residents to join forces in overcoming the current difficulties.”

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