Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, Takes Full Measures During Lunar New Year Holiday Amid COVID-19 Resurgence

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Gwan-woo] As nationwide calls for easing social distancing measures grow louder, the role of the ‘On-site Dispatch Situation Management Team’ in Gwangsan District, Gwangju Metropolitan City is gaining attention.

The Situation Management Team is tasked with monitoring and improving compliance with quarantine rules on-site, including the key condition for easing social distancing: the prohibition of gatherings of five or more people.

According to Gwangsan District on the 13th, 31 resident reports were received from the first day of the Lunar New Year holiday on the 11th until 1 p.m. on the same day.

Specifically, these include ▲19 cases related to gatherings of five or more ▲10 cases related to gathering restrictions ▲1 case related to gathering bans ▲1 case related to not wearing masks.

The Situation Management Team responds to these reported locations to verify violations, collect personal information, and explain quarantine rules.

They were especially busy during this Lunar New Year holiday period, as local infection surges have historically occurred during holidays or golden weekends since last year.

Through on-site inspections this time, the Situation Management Team took measures at 14 locations where quarantine control was deemed possible by providing guidance on compliance with quarantine rules.

Additionally, 16 gatherings dispersed voluntarily before the team arrived, and one case subject to a fine was also detected.

Since the 27th of last month, the Situation Management Team has been operating on weekdays mainly through department staff responsible for each facility, and on holidays and nights through the Citizen Safety Division and duty officers who form the team.

Up to about 10 personnel are deployed to respond immediately to on-site complaints. Depending on the situation, support and cooperation from the Gwangsan Police Station are also received.

Gwangsan District has defined its response to the Lunar New Year holiday as a turning point for adjusting social distancing and is working hard to activate a full-scale preparedness system.

For example, 31 people work daily in the ‘Holiday Comprehensive Situation Room Task Force’ and the COVID-19 Response TF.

Before the holiday, starting from the night of the 9th, Gwangsan District sent text messages to 1,340 public officials to check emergency mobilization readiness, ensuring thorough preparation.

Kim Sam-ho, Mayor of Gwangsan District, said, “We will thoroughly monitor to ensure there are no blind spots in quarantine during the Lunar New Year holiday period, contributing to the early relief of citizens’ fatigue from prolonged social distancing and the local economy’s anxiety.”

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