"‘Quarantine Live Ammo’ Must Be Supplied During War" ... Gijang-gun Begins 4th Mask Distribution

Emergency Distribution of 10 Protective Masks Per Resident Starting from the 10th
Second Free Distribution of One Bottle of Hand Sanitizer Per Household Underway

In Gijang-gun, Busan, the fourth round of free distribution of 10 quarantine masks per resident is underway.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Kim Yong-woo] In Gijang-gun, Busan, from the 10th, a 4th round of emergency free distribution of masks began, providing 10 masks per person to all 172,000 residents of the county.

Hand sanitizers are also being distributed for the second time, with one bottle per household to approximately 73,000 households.

Since February 22, including the 4th round, a total of 4.2 million masks have been distributed, and including the second round, a total of 230,000 bottles of hand sanitizer have been distributed.

Along with the masks and hand sanitizers, Gijang-gun included a self-produced notice titled ‘Core COVID-19 Response Quarantine Guidelines.’

The notice contains ▲ Core quarantine guidelines for users of multi-use facilities in response to COVID-19, ▲ Four principles of social distancing equivalent to level 3 in Gijang-gun for COVID-19 response, ▲ The risks of COVID-19, and ▲ Please maintain daily disinfection for our health! (Correct daily disinfection methods).

Gijang-gun secured 2.3 million masks (2 million adult masks, 300,000 children’s masks) and 100,000 bottles of hand sanitizer starting from the 20th of last month to sequentially provide masks and hand sanitizers to all residents from age 0.

Gijang-gun plans to distribute masks and hand sanitizers while strictly adhering to the ‘Four Principles of Social Distancing Equivalent to Level 3 in Gijang-gun.’

County Governor Oh Gyu-seok instructed all related personnel, including neighborhood leaders and apartment management office staff responsible for distribution, to be fully briefed in advance on distribution rules such as wearing masks and sanitary gloves and maintaining a 2-meter distance during distribution.

In Gijang-gun, apartments distribute by building, and villages distribute by neighborhood units, with order and times set in advance and sequential distribution conducted through announcement broadcasts. Apartments distribute by building under the guidance of the neighborhood leader and eup/myeon staff at the management office following the announcement broadcasts, while natural villages distribute directly to each household by village halls or neighborhood leaders.

Governor Oh said, “In the prolonged COVID-19 situation without vaccines, the only weapon is masks and hand sanitizers. Due to economic difficulties, ordinary people find it heartbreaking even to buy a single mask. It is appropriate to take at least safety measures such as supporting masks and hand sanitizers before the central and local governments issue administrative orders mandating mask-wearing.”

Since February 18, Gijang-gun has distributed 1.9 million masks and 130,000 bottles of hand sanitizer free of charge.

From February 18, targeting vulnerable residents, Gijang-gun was the first nationwide to distribute about 400,000 health masks free of charge to local senior centers, vulnerable groups (basic livelihood security recipients, near-poverty groups), daycare centers, kindergartens, and elementary schools.

Additionally, masks were provided free of charge to all households in the area, 5 masks per household on February 26, March 3, and March 22, totaling 15 masks per household and 1.05 million masks overall.

Furthermore, about 1,000 pregnant women and mothers within 3 months postpartum, 4,890 teachers in contact with infants and students, 8,500 elementary, middle, and high school students, and 1,095 special workers such as taxi, village bus, and Gijang-gun bus drivers, delivery drivers, and post office mail carriers received 10 to 20 masks each free of charge to proactively prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Hand sanitizers were also distributed free of charge to 70,000 households on February 22, and since February 28, have been continuously distributed free of charge to daycare centers, kindergartens, elementary, middle, and high schools, multi-use facilities, local businesses, and self-employed persons.

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