Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul Rehabilitation Hospital Blocks COVID-19 Spread

After a confirmed case among Seoul Rehabilitation Hospital staff, all 362 employees and inpatients tested negative... Eunpyeong Municipal Hospital operates 'Drive-Through' Screening Clinic... Reduces infection exposure and shortens specimen collection time, with about 50 people using it daily, gaining high community approval for easy testing

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) and Seoul Rehabilitation Hospital (Director Lee Ji-sun) announced that they are making every effort to prevent possible 'in-hospital infection' after occupational therapist Lee ○○ (#1253, female, born in 1995, resident of Yeokchon-dong, Eunpyeong-gu), who works at Seoul Rehabilitation Hospital, was confirmed positive for COVID-19 on February 25.

Lee ○○, an occupational therapist working at Seoul Rehabilitation Hospital (located in Gusan-dong, Eunpyeong-gu), visited the Seobuk Municipal Hospital screening clinic on February 24 to get tested for COVID-19 and received a positive result on the 25th.

In response, Seoul Rehabilitation Hospital immediately temporarily closed its outpatient and day ward services, and Eunpyeong-gu conducted emergency disinfection of the hospital and the confirmed patient's movement routes to swiftly prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Additionally, text messages were sent twice to a total of 1,057 people, including outpatients, day ward users, and visitors, advising them to get tested at screening clinics if they experience fever or respiratory symptoms. They are also being monitored individually through phone calls for fever and respiratory symptoms.

Along with this, COVID-19 tests were conducted on a total of 362 people, including 258 staff members (including medical personnel who had contact), 55 inpatients, and 49 guardians and caregivers, all of whom tested negative, as announced on the 4th.

Currently, Seoul Rehabilitation Hospital has established a close cooperation system with Eunpyeong-gu and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, sharing all information quickly and transparently, and is making every effort to prevent in-hospital infection and block community spread by conducting disinfection along movement routes.

Since the 3rd, the Seobuk Eunpyeong Hospital (located in Eungam-dong, Eunpyeong-gu) has been operating a 'drive-through' style screening clinic where visitors can get tested while remaining in their cars.

The 'drive-through' method minimizes contact to prevent infection among those waiting, ensures the safety of medical staff, and shortens specimen collection time. It has received high community response, with an average of about 50 people using it daily over the past three days.

On the 5th, Kim Mi-kyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong-gu, visited Seobuk Eunpyeong Hospital to encourage hospital staff who are doing their best to prevent the spread of COVID-19, listen to their opinions, and promised maximum administrative and financial support including necessary supplies and personnel.

Furthermore, starting from the 4th, Eunpyeong-gu has allocated 300 million KRW from the disaster management fund to conduct special disinfection in local hospitals, multi-use facilities, and facilities used by vulnerable groups. Through a cooperative disinfection effort involving the Eunpyeong-gu Autonomous Disaster Prevention Corps, Autonomous Disaster Prevention Council, and the 219th Regiment 2nd Battalion, a public-private-military partnership, they are doing their utmost to alleviate residents' anxiety and prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

Mayor Kim Mi-kyung of Eunpyeong-gu stated, "Although there was a confirmed case among Seoul Rehabilitation Hospital staff raising concerns about in-hospital infection, early and immediate response prevented further spread. We will continue to thoroughly conduct disinfection and monitoring."

She also urged, "When getting tested for COVID-19 by car, please use the drive-through screening clinic at Seobuk Eunpyeong Hospital (300-8114), which reduces infection risk and allows testing within 10 minutes if there is no waiting."

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