Seoul Station Hope Support Center Operates Emergency for Four Days Due to COVID-19 Cases... 22 People in Self-Quarantine

Five Workers and Homeless Confirmed Positive in a Week... Facility Disinfection Measures Taken Over 4 Days
Homeless Seeking Emergency Shelter Linked to Temporary Accommodations Such as Goshiwon

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that the Seoul Station Hope Support Center, a homeless facility installed and operated at Seoul Station Plaza, will operate under an emergency operation system for four days starting from the 26th due to multiple confirmed cases of COVID-19.

From January 17 to 25, a total of five confirmed cases occurred at the center, including two staff members and three homeless individuals. As a result, many close contacts were identified, and as of 8 a.m. on the 26th, 24 staff members are hospitalized or in self-quarantine and unable to work.

The exact infection route of the confirmed staff and homeless individuals has not yet been identified, and an epidemiological investigation is currently underway by the local health center.

Accordingly, in consultation with quarantine authorities, Seoul City decided to temporarily suspend the operation of the Seoul Station Hope Support Center and the emergency shelter from the 26th to the 29th. With the temporary suspension of the Seoul Station Hope Support Center, homeless individuals wishing to use shower and clothing services will be guided to nearby facilities such as the Dasi-seogi Comprehensive Support Center and the Bridge Comprehensive Support Center.

Additionally, homeless individuals who used the Seoul Station emergency shelter will be provided emergency accommodation by securing additional goshiwon (small lodging facilities), and those living on the streets will receive relief supplies and health checks through day and night street counseling.

Street counseling around Seoul Station is operating normally with seven daytime and eleven nighttime counselors deployed, excluding two facility workers. During counseling, COVID-19 testing guidance, mask distribution, emergency shelter information, and distribution of winter supplies such as sleeping bags, hot packs, and clothing are provided.

During the emergency operation period, the homeless crisis response call center (1600-9582) will continue to operate 24 hours a day. Relief requests received through the crisis response call will be addressed by the street counseling team dispatched to the site, or homeless individuals requiring facility protection will be connected to homeless facilities other than the Seoul Station Hope Support Center (three comprehensive support centers, four temporary protection facilities, and one Yeongdeungpo Hope Support Center) for protection.

During the emergency operation period, in addition to disinfection measures within the facility, COVID-19 testing for facility staff and users will be conducted along with urgent functional reinforcement. In cooperation with quarantine authorities, if additional confirmed cases or close contacts are identified through epidemiological investigations during the emergency operation period, they will be provided emergency isolation and protection until hospitalization or admission to a residential treatment center.

Furthermore, to minimize operational suspension due to asymptomatic confirmed cases using the facility, homeless individuals will be continuously guided and supported to receive COVID-19 testing through the temporary screening clinic set up at Seoul Station Plaza.

Facility operations will resume normally from 9 a.m. on the 30th when 14 staff members of the Hope Support Center who were excluded from work return. To prevent the spread of infectious diseases among homeless individuals, thorough quarantine measures such as encouraging COVID-19 testing, operating full-body sterilization devices, and measuring the temperatures of users and staff will be strictly implemented.

Kim Seon-soon, Director of Welfare Policy at Seoul City, stated, “It is unfortunate that confirmed cases have occurred at the Seoul Station Hope Support Center, which is used by an unspecified large number of people, and due to staff members being quarantined as close contacts, normal operation is difficult.” She added, “During the emergency operation period, we will actively guide homeless individuals around Seoul Station to undergo COVID-19 testing, and for additional confirmed cases or close contacts identified, we will take measures such as hospitalization or admission to residential treatment centers to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.”

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