Busan's 'Duribal' Was a 'Masterstroke' Against COVID-19

Over 10,000 Overseas Entrants Passed Through Busan Station Emergency Transport Team by the 12th
Emergency Deployment of Duribal Vehicle for Disabled Transport During Service Suspension... Successful Prevention of Secondary Infection

Duribal waiting to transport overseas arrivals at Busan Station.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Since launching the operation to block overseas inflow of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the number of overseas arrivals passing through Busan Station has surpassed 10,000.

Busan City announced on the 14th that on the 12th, the 76th day since operating the emergency transport support team at Busan Station to block COVID-19 infections originating from overseas inflow, the number of overseas arrivals passing through the Busan Station emergency support team exceeded 10,000.

Since March 28, the city has installed and operated an emergency transport support team at the Eurasia Platform of Busan Station, managing the transportation and movement routes of overseas arrivals. The emergency support team acted as a control tower for the overall self-quarantine of overseas arrivals by establishing a cooperative system with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, railway police, screening clinics, and self-quarantine facilities (Ramada Hotel).

As of the 12th, 10,070 people have entered from overseas, of which 6,466 were transported using Duribal, 3,070 by private car, and 534 by other means such as ambulance or on foot. To operate the emergency transport support team, a total of 3,134 personnel were deployed, including 888 Busan City employees, 230 facility corporation employees, 1,280 Duribal drivers, 584 police officers, and 152 railway police officers.

Since April 7, a screening clinic was installed at Busan Station to ensure the safety of overseas arrivals, and as of the 12th, immediate COVID-19 testing was conducted on 7,388 people. The Ramada Hotel, a self-quarantine facility operating near Busan Station, has been used by a total of 446 people, with 284 currently in self-quarantine.

Among the overseas arrivals passing through Busan Station so far, 13 have tested positive, but due to thorough quarantine measures, social distancing among arrivals, and personal hygiene management by staff, there have been no secondary infections, which has received favorable evaluations both domestically and internationally.

In particular, the bold deployment of Duribal vehicles, which are dedicated transportation for the disabled and other transportation-vulnerable groups whose operations had decreased due to COVID-19, for transporting overseas arrivals attracted attention. This case was introduced twice as a model case to local governments nationwide by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters. It was also recognized as a good idea featured on broadcast programs.

Although there were opposing opinions about using Duribal vehicles, which are transportation means for the disabled, in operating the emergency transport support team, the collective will to overcome the global disaster of COVID-19 on a grand scale was rightly applauded.

It was estimated that if a separate budget were allocated solely for the transportation of arrivals, 500 million KRW would be required over six months, but Busan City effectively saved costs by utilizing the manpower of the Busan Facilities Corporation and the idle Duribal vehicles. In response, Busan City plans to produce 21 new Duribal vehicles early in 2020 and do its best to guarantee the mobility rights of transportation-vulnerable groups.

Byun Sung-wan, Acting Mayor of Busan, said, “With the number of citizens entering Busan from abroad exceeding 10,000, we will continue to remain vigilant and ensure that citizens are safely returned home to their residences,” adding, “We are pouring all the city’s capabilities into completely blocking infections through overseas inflow so that the COVID-19 situation can end as soon as possible.”

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