Mapo-gu Establishes 'Respiratory Specialized Clinic' in Public Health Center to Prepare for Prolonged COVID-19 Pandemic

Early December Completion of 'Respiratory Specialist Clinic' Installation Establishes Safe Treatment Environment...Proactive Screening for Respiratory Patients, Preventing Infection Among Medical Staff and Institutions

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] As the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) situation continues and winter approaches, concerns are growing about the increase in patients with various respiratory-related illnesses.

Mapo-gu (Mayor Yudonggyun) is proactively responding by establishing a ‘Respiratory Dedicated Clinic’ that can safely provide medical treatment even if COVID-19 and influenza spread simultaneously.

The ‘Respiratory Dedicated Clinic,’ located within the Mapo-gu Public Health Center, will begin construction this month and is scheduled to be completed by early December.

The ‘Respiratory Dedicated Clinic’ will be equipped with examination rooms featuring negative pressure facilities to safely screen suspected COVID-19 cases, as well as patient waiting rooms and reception areas, to provide treatment for patients with respiratory infections including COVID-19.

Once the clinic is established in December, the district will have both a ‘Screening Clinic’ and a ‘Respiratory Dedicated Clinic’ on the first floor of the public health center, enabling faster and more appropriate responses to infectious disease crises.

Visitors will first undergo screening at the ‘Respiratory Dedicated Clinic,’ and if COVID-19 infection is suspected, they will be directed to the screening clinic located outside on the first floor of the public health center for immediate COVID-19 testing. Patients suspected of general respiratory or febrile illnesses not related to COVID-19 will receive treatment and prescriptions at the clinic or be guided to private medical institutions, ensuring they can receive medical services with peace of mind.

This system also helps prevent COVID-19 infected individuals from visiting private medical institutions and subsequently causing closures due to confirmed cases, thereby reducing the burden on medical staff and institutions and aiding the normalization of the healthcare system.

Additionally, since May, the district has strengthened its safety inspection system and proactively responded to COVID-19 by constructing and operating a ‘Screening Clinic’ at the Mapo-gu Public Health Center equipped with a negative pressure automatic control system and a walk-through testing window, significantly reducing COVID-19 testing time.

Yudonggyun, Mayor of Mapo-gu, stated, “As winter approaches, respiratory-related patients inevitably increase, and it is difficult for private medical institutions to distinguish between influenza and COVID-19. In preparation for this, we plan to provide a safe treatment environment by establishing a Respiratory Dedicated Clinic at the district public health center. We hope those with suspected respiratory symptoms will feel reassured and receive medical care.”

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