Gijang-gun Lavishly Fires 'Quarantine Bullets' in the 'Corona War'

Busan Gijang-gun Decides 4th Emergency Free Distribution of 2 Million Masks
10 Masks Per Resident and 1 Bottle of Hand Sanitizer Per Household in 2nd Round
Total Masks Supported So Far: 1.9 Million, Hand Sanitizers: 130,000 Bottles

Busan Gijang-gun Government Office.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Busan’s Gijang-gun has decided to urgently distribute 2.3 million quarantine masks and 100,000 bottles of hand sanitizer to residents in preparation for a resurgence of COVID-19.

The fourth distribution this time includes 2 million adult masks and 300,000 child masks, with 10 masks per resident, and hand sanitizer will be distributed at one bottle per household.

So far, Gijang-gun has supplied 1.9 million masks and 130,000 bottles of hand sanitizer in its ‘battle’ against COVID-19. This shows a strong determination to inject an amount comparable to the volume poured in since last February.

Gijang-gun was the first local government nationwide to implement quarantine measures equivalent to social distancing level 3, and the quarantine supplies are scheduled to be distributed starting in September.

Gijang-gun Mayor Oh Gyu-seok said, “The whole world is fighting a tough war against COVID-19. Without vaccines, the only weapons we have are masks and hand sanitizer,” and ordered the urgent free distribution of quarantine supplies.

The mayor explained the reason for distribution, saying, “Due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and economic difficulties, ordinary people find it heartbreaking even to buy a single mask. Before the central and local governments enforce administrative orders against those not wearing masks, it is a proper duty to take minimum safety measures such as providing masks and hand sanitizer.”

Starting in September, Gijang-gun will sequentially distribute masks and hand sanitizer to all residents, beginning with infants.

On the 20th, a contract was signed with the manufacturer securing a total supply of 2.3 million masks. The 100,000 bottles of hand sanitizer were secured on the 12th, allowing distribution of one bottle per household. Hand sanitizer will also be provided from September to workers in special occupations and all self-employed business owners within the district.

Gijang-gun was the first local government nationwide to begin free mask distribution at the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak.

On February 18, it started distributing about 400,000 health masks to vulnerable groups, and on February 26, it conducted the first free distribution of 350,000 health masks at five masks per household to all households in the district. On March 3, the second free distribution of 350,000 masks at five masks per household was carried out, followed by a third distribution of the same amount on March 22.

Additionally, after the second free distribution of health masks to all households in March, Gijang-gun provided 10 health masks per person free of charge to about 1,000 pregnant women and mothers within three months postpartum who are vulnerable to COVID-19, as well as 4,890 teachers from daycare centers, kindergartens, and elementary, middle, and high schools, making every effort to block COVID-19 at its source.

To ensure no residents are left out, about 5,000 infants and children who are home-cared for or registered in Gijang-gun but attending daycare centers or kindergartens in other regions due to circumstances were also supported with a total of about 50,000 masks at 10 masks per person.

The county also provided a total of about 20,000 health masks, 20 masks per person, in two rounds during March and April to 1,095 workers in special occupations who come into contact with many residents, including about 930 individual taxi drivers, corporate taxi drivers, village bus and Gijang-gun bus drivers, about 110 delivery drivers, and 55 postal workers.

In April, Gijang-gun distributed 10 health masks per student free of charge to all 8,500 middle and high school students in the district through their schools.

Gijang-gun’s mask distribution campaign was so decisive and generous that the saying “People in Gijang don’t need to buy masks separately” circulated. The total number of masks distributed free of charge by Gijang-gun has reached 1.9 million.

Furthermore, Gijang-gun secured 130,000 bottles of hand sanitizer and on February 22 distributed one bottle per household free of charge to all 70,000 households in the district. It has continuously distributed hand sanitizer free of charge to daycare centers, kindergartens, elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as multi-use facilities, local companies, and self-employed business owners. As of August 11, the total amount of hand sanitizer distributed free of charge reached 130,000 bottles.

Starting March 27, Gijang-gun began distributing the Gijang-type disaster basic income and by April 29, it completed 100% payment to 162,651 first applicants nationwide, the first in the country. The Gijang-type disaster basic income provided 100,000 KRW in cash per resident.

Since February 24, Gijang-gun has significantly increased its quarantine personnel from 19 to 79, centered on the Infectious Disease Prevention Team, and is making every effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Having experienced MERS in 2015, Gijang-gun established the Infectious Disease Prevention Team, the first dedicated infectious disease department among basic local governments nationwide, in April 2017 to build a meticulous quarantine network.

This Infectious Disease Prevention Team conducts disinfection throughout the district from 4:30 a.m. on weekdays as well as Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, dedicating administrative power to blocking COVID-19.

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