Dongjak-gu Expands Operation of 3 Screening Clinics for Proactive Testing

From the 14th, ▲Sadang Culture Center ▲Gumin Sports Center ▲Heukseok Sports Center added... Total 5 locations operating Anyone in the district can get a COVID-19 test at the nearest screening clinic regardless of symptoms... Suspension of routine district office tasks except essential public services... All staff fully committed to COVID-19 response

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Dongjak-gu (Mayor Changwoo Lee) will operate three additional temporary screening clinics from the 14th to conduct proactive testing for all residents in order to block the large-scale spread of COVID-19.

Since November 19, 211 confirmed cases have occurred in the area over three weeks, showing a rapid increase. Analysis of infection routes over the past week reveals ▲family transmission (37%) ▲contact with other municipalities (31%) ▲Sadang-dong sauna (16%) ▲unknown source patients (15%) ▲overseas arrivals (1%), indicating a very critical situation where anyone can be infected with COVID-19 anytime and anywhere.

Accordingly, on the 11th, the district held an emergency 224th Disaster Safety and Quarantine Countermeasure Meeting and decided to mobilize all administrative resources for the operation of screening clinics and residential treatment centers. Mayor Changwoo Lee urged all staff to temporarily suspend routine work except essential duties and once again called for sacrifice and dedication in responding to COVID-19.

The district will significantly expand proactive testing to actively find hidden spreaders and break the chain of COVID-19 transmission by the end of the year. Additional screening clinics will be installed so that residents can easily receive diagnostic tests, and the health center screening clinics will extend their operation until 9 p.m. on weekdays.

The clinics added on the 14th are ▲Sadang Cultural Center (Sadang-dong) ▲Community Sports Center (Sindaebang-dong) ▲Heukseok Sports Center (Heukseok-dong), and they will operate for three weeks, including Saturdays and holidays. However, the period and hours may change according to Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters guidelines.

The district will assign a bureau chief as the situation room head for each screening clinic and deploy 144 staff members to strengthen operations. Including the existing Dongjak-gu Health Center and Seoul Boramae Hospital, a total of five screening clinics will be operated until the end of the year.

Additionally, about ten officials from Seoul City, police, and military will be deployed to screening clinics and epidemiological investigations, and the Dongjak-gu Medical Association will support specimen collection at the screening clinics.

Testing is available to all residents regardless of symptoms; anyone can visit the nearest screening clinic to get tested. The district aims to strongly block further spread by conducting proactive COVID-19 testing for as many residents as possible.

To resolve the shortage of hospital beds due to the surge in patients in Seoul, one residential treatment center for mild and asymptomatic confirmed patients under 49 years old will be secured and is scheduled to operate next week, with continuous facility expansion underway.

During the special quarantine period at the end of the year and New Year, the district will strengthen inspections of multi-use facilities such as ▲karaoke rooms ▲PC rooms ▲restaurants ▲entertainment establishments, as well as religious facilities.

In particular, the district is identifying similar facilities such as party rooms and is pushing for assembly ban orders.

Mayor Changwoo Lee of Dongjak-gu said, “I hope residents actively participate in this proactive testing to overcome the crisis of the large-scale spread of COVID-19.” He added, “Especially during Christmas and the year-end and New Year holidays, as you have cooperated so far, I earnestly ask you to cancel all gatherings and events and stay at home to practice strong social distancing.”

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