Pohang City Resumes Operation of Senior Welfare Center... Physical Contact Programs Restricted

Mayor Lee Gang-deok of Pohang visiting the Senior Welfare Center on the 22nd to inspect the infection response situation following its reopening.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Dong-wook] Pohang City, Gyeongsangbuk-do, has resumed limited operations of the Senior Welfare Center starting from the 22nd, which had been closed since February 20 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On this day, Mayor Lee Kang-deok visited the welfare center site to check compliance with personal hygiene rules such as mask-wearing and temperature checks.

The Pohang City Facilities Management Corporation, entrusted with the management of the Senior Welfare Center, conducted infection control training for staff before reopening, including user attendance by rotation, controlling the number of autonomous users, twice-daily temperature checks and disinfection, and staggered use of the cafeteria.

The Facilities Corporation plans to start limited operation with educational programs first, then gradually resume contact activity programs such as table tennis, billiards, and baduk while monitoring the situation. However, facilities and programs involving close physical contact, such as shower rooms, daytime care rooms, karaoke rooms, fitness rooms, and sports dance, are excluded from reopening.

Earlier, as the number of users of the Senior Welfare Center increased significantly, Pohang City invested 460 million KRW (230 million KRW from provincial funds and 230 million KRW from city funds) starting in October last year to remodel the center, completing the construction in March.

Mayor Lee Kang-deok emphasized, "I hope that the daily lives of the elderly, which had become dull and constrained due to the spread of COVID-19, can be restored with the reopening of the welfare center. Above all, we will do our utmost in quarantine and monitoring so that the elderly, who are vulnerable to infections, can use the facilities with peace of mind."

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