Seoul's 25 Districts Operate Selected Testing Centers During Chuseok Holiday

Seoul City Implements Comprehensive Chuseok Measures for COVID-19 Prevention and Livelihood Stability
Comprehensive Situation Room Overseeing Safety, Traffic, and Medical Services Operates 24-Hour Emergency Response System

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] In preparation for the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), screening clinics in 25 autonomous districts within Seoul will operate normally during the Chuseok holiday period.

On the 23rd, Seoul City announced that from 6 p.m. on the 29th of this month until 9 a.m. on the 5th of next month, five task forces related to fire safety, flood and wind damage, traffic, medical care, and prices will be established, and a comprehensive situation room will be set up on the first floor of City Hall to oversee and coordinate these efforts, maintaining 24-hour readiness for emergencies occurring during the holiday period.

To actively respond to the COVID-19 situation, the city will continue to operate the 'Chuseok Comprehensive Situation Room' separately from the 'Seoul Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Situation Room' during the holiday period, and each autonomous district will operate at least one screening clinic. Seven infectious disease-dedicated hospitals and eight residential treatment centers in Seoul will operate regardless of the holiday period, maintaining a 24-hour monitoring system to check changes in the condition of those under self-quarantine and prevent unauthorized departures.

Additionally, 1,539 hospitals and clinics and 3,960 pharmacies will remain open to prepare for emergency patients during the holiday, and emergency medical institutions operating 24 hours a day, totaling 67 locations, will maintain an emergency medical system.

Disinfection will also be strengthened at major stations such as Seoul Station and Cheongnyangni Station, terminals, and inside subway and bus vehicles and facilities. However, for citizens who must travel inevitably, the last train and bus times on some subway and bus routes will be extended until 2 a.m. on Chuseok day and the following days, October 1?2. Considering that the holidays in May and August triggered the spread of COVID-19, on-site inspections of disinfection practices at multi-use facilities will also be conducted.

Through the city’s website and social network services (SNS), the campaign "Please Protect Each Other Even During Chuseok" will be promoted to create an atmosphere encouraging citizens to refrain from traveling, and various Chuseok cultural events will be conducted online as a principle to minimize gatherings. To prevent visitors from gathering at gravesites, indoor columbariums at municipal funeral facilities will be closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays until the 18th of next month, encouraging the use of the online memorial service system, and free shuttle bus services passing through municipal cemeteries will be suspended.

Furthermore, support for vulnerable groups will be changed to a customized non-face-to-face method; joint ancestral rites at small room counseling centers will be replaced with meals such as lunch boxes, and special meal support will replace Chuseok programs at homeless facilities. To alleviate the burden on citizens from the surge in Chuseok prices caused by summer typhoons and heavy rains, a comprehensive price countermeasure situation room will also operate until the 5th of next month.

Jo In-dong, Director of Planning and Coordination at Seoul City, said, "During the Chuseok holiday period, we will thoroughly prepare to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and strengthen quarantine measures, as well as prepare for disasters and accidents, while actively promoting the stabilization of Chuseok prices, which have surged due to typhoons, and support for vulnerable groups. We ask citizens to strictly follow personal quarantine rules such as hand washing and wearing masks, and to refrain from traveling for the safety of all of us."

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