"Preparing for Simultaneous Influenza and COVID-19 Outbreaks" ... 34 Respiratory Specialized Clinics Established in Seoul

Seoul City Implements '2020 Winter Comprehensive Measures' for a Safe and Warm Winter
Focused on Five Key Areas: Quarantine, Snow Removal, Safety, Cold Wave, and Livelihood Stability Until March 15 Next Year

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Seoul Metropolitan Government has decided to establish 'respiratory specialized clinics' throughout Seoul in preparation for the simultaneous outbreak of influenza and COVID-19 this winter. Until the end of the year, it will focus on inspecting quarantine measures at entertainment facilities, restaurants, and bathhouses, and conduct special inspections of churches and cathedrals during the Christmas holiday period.

On the 15th, the city announced that it will implement the '2020 Winter Comprehensive Measures' for four months until March 15 next year to prevent the spread of COVID-19, winter disasters, accidents, and to protect vulnerable groups.

First, the operation of beds at six hospitals currently designated as infectious disease specialized hospitals will be maintained, and reserve beds will be secured at residential treatment centers for isolation and treatment of mild or asymptomatic confirmed cases to prepare for an increase in confirmed cases during winter. Proactive testing will continue for not only the general public but also workers and users of high-risk facilities such as nursing hospitals to prevent community cluster infections in advance.

The respiratory specialized clinics are established to minimize cases where patients with respiratory or fever symptoms are refused treatment at frontline medical institutions and to prevent infections within medical institutions. The goal is to install or designate 34 such clinics by the end of this year at public health centers or qualified hospitals, clinics, and general hospital-level medical institutions. These clinics will provide primary care for respiratory patients and, if necessary, conduct COVID-19 tests directly or refer patients to screening clinics.

The 'Seoul-type Free Influenza Vaccination' program, which has been underway since October 15, will be expanded to public service workers with high public contact frequency and occupations with high exposure to external environments. Free vaccinations will be provided to municipal hospital workers, childcare teachers and staff, public transportation drivers such as bus and taxi drivers, postpartum care center residents, social welfare facility residents, child care center workers, sanitation workers, and security personnel in multi-unit housing.

Special on-site inspections will also be conducted at facilities with a high risk of winter COVID-19 cluster infections. Entertainment facilities, restaurants, and religious facilities that do not comply with quarantine guidelines may face closure orders or fines.

Additionally, for the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) scheduled for December 3, examinees who have tested positive and are undergoing isolation treatment will take the exam at separate test centers set up at Seoul Medical Center and Namsan Residential Treatment Center. Examinees under self-quarantine will travel to separate test centers by private car, and if private car use is not possible, they will be transported by official vehicles or ambulances accompanied by dedicated public officials. Furthermore, in December, when university entrance evaluations are concentrated, quarantine measures at restaurants and cafes around university areas will be intensively inspected.

The city will also form a Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters operating 24 hours to prepare for heavy snowfall, focusing on road snow removal and prevention of water supply facility freezing. Additionally, 743 emergency sleeping spaces for the homeless will be prepared, and 191,500 households of basic livelihood security and medical aid recipients, as well as low-income veterans, will receive 50,000 KRW each for winter measures, with 9.5 billion KRW of city funds allocated.

Jo In-dong, Director of Planning and Coordination at Seoul City, said, "Considering the serious situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, this winter's measures have been carefully designed to strengthen quarantine to protect citizens' lives and safety," and urged, "We ask all citizens to comply with quarantine rules such as wearing masks and to maintain personal hygiene by washing hands."

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