The 'Vaccine' We Have Now Is Like a Mask... Gijang-gun Distributes to All Residents, "4th 'Dose' Coming"

After the first nationwide free distribution in February, a total of 4.2 million masks and 230,000 bottles of hand sanitizer have been provided

On the afternoon of the 11th, the village chief in Jeonggwan-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan, is handing out masks, hand sanitizers, and a notice of the 'Core COVID-19 Response Quarantine Guidelines' independently produced by Gijang-gun to apartment residents.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] “The only ‘COVID-19 vaccines’ we currently have are masks and hand sanitizers.”

This ‘vaccine prescription’ from Gijang-gun, Busan, is exceptional.

Since February, it has gained nationwide attention as a preemptive COVID-19 prevention strategy by being the first in the country to distribute 15 masks and one bottle of hand sanitizer per household free of charge to all households in the district.

In the early days of COVID-19 in Korea, it was difficult to obtain masks due to government requisitioning supplies meant for China, wholesale buyers from China sweeping up stock, and panic buying.

Mayor Oh Gyu-seok of Gijang-gun made a bold decision early on. He even ‘released’ staff to search for nearby factories in Yangsan and Ulsan.

Is there any other local government that has boldly ‘administered’ this ‘soft vaccine’ that requires no syringe to residents like Gijang-gun?

Since the 10th, emergency free distribution has begun for about 172,000 residents, providing 10 masks per person and one bottle of hand sanitizer per household to approximately 73,000 households.

This is the fourth time masks have been distributed to all residents. Hand sanitizers are being distributed free for the second time. Since February 18, Gijang-gun has secured 4.2 million masks and 230,000 bottles of hand sanitizer for free distribution to residents.

Due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, many residents feel economic burdens even buying a single mask or bottle of hand sanitizer. On the 20th of last month, setting aside tight financial concerns, the mayor issued a command to proceed.

Gijang-gun distributes masks and hand sanitizers while adhering to a manual called the ‘Four Principles of Social Distancing Equivalent to Gijang-gun’s Level 3.’

In apartments, distribution is done sequentially by building and time set by the management office, and in villages, distribution is done by village units with village halls or community leaders visiting each household directly.

Gijang officials evaluate this manual as one of the highest standards among local governments worldwide.

Gijang-gun also provides a self-produced ‘COVID-19 Core Prevention Guidelines’ leaflet along with the masks to promote COVID-19 prevention simultaneously.

Gijang-gun was the first in the country to distribute masks free of charge to vulnerable groups in the district on February 18 and to all households on February 26.

The painful lessons from the 2015 MERS outbreak proved beneficial. The proactive securing of masks and hand sanitizers immediately after the COVID-19 outbreak was in the same context.

Regarding masks, which Gijang-gun regards as a vaccine: △From February 18, 400,000 masks were distributed at 10 per person to vulnerable residents, daycare centers, kindergartens, and elementary schools; △On February 26, the first free distribution to all households (5 masks per household, total 350,000); △On March 3, the second free distribution to all households (5 masks per household, total 350,000); △On March 22, the third free distribution to all households (5 masks per household, total 350,000); △From March 2, 60,000 masks at 10 per person for home care or children attending daycare centers and kindergartens outside Gijang-gun but residing in Gijang, pregnant women, and mothers within three months postpartum; △From March 5, 70,000 masks at 10 per person for special occupation workers (teachers, taxi and village bus drivers, post office delivery workers, etc.); △From April 6, 90,000 masks at 10 per person for middle and high school students; △On September 10, 1.72 million masks at 10 per person for all residents.

Looking at the ‘second vaccine,’ hand sanitizer: △From February 21, 30,000 bottles for businesses and self-employed; △On February 22, 70,000 bottles, one per household for all households; △From February 28, 6,300 bottles for daycare centers, kindergartens, elementary, middle, and high schools; △From August 6, 2,000 bottles for taxis, village buses, and Gijang-gun buses; △From August 14, 1,600 bottles for bus stops and indoor/outdoor sports facilities; △On September 10, 72,000 bottles, one per household for all households.

Mayor Oh emphasized, “In the prolonged COVID-19 situation, the only weapons we have without vaccines are masks and hand sanitizers. Now that masks and hand sanitizers are combat weapons protecting our lives, please make mask-wearing, hand sanitizer use, and adherence to Gijang’s core COVID-19 prevention guidelines a combat-ready daily habit.”

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