Seoul City Reports 43 Violations of 5-Person Gathering Ban Over Two Weeks, 100 People Recorded

Published 12 Mar.2021 18:53(KST)

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] On the 12th, the 100th 'Mimiwi Gangnam COVID-19 Briefing' begins. Since the COVID-19 vaccination in Gangnam-gu started on the 26th of last month, it has been progressing well. Currently, vaccinations are underway for 11,280 first-quarter target individuals, including residents and workers of nursing hospitals and facilities, and first responders, with 5,213 people (46.2%) having received the vaccine as of the previous day.

In particular, regarding vaccination of high-risk medical institution workers, if the number of people wishing to be vaccinated is 10 or fewer, or if self-vaccination is difficult, vaccinations can be administered at the Gangnam-gu Public Health Center starting next Monday.

Fortunately, there have been no severe adverse reactions reported in the region after vaccination so far. To date, 26 people have experienced mild symptoms such as fever or cough, which are common after vaccination, but all recovered within a day or two and are living healthily.

With over 500,000 COVID-19 vaccine recipients nationwide, the government has decided to vaccinate approximately 370,000 residents aged 65 and older and workers in nursing hospitals and facilities within this month.

In this regard, the Gangnam-gu Special Vaccination Task Force is preparing detailed guidelines to ensure that vaccinations for 737 elderly residents in local nursing hospitals and facilities proceed quickly and safely.

Although vaccinations are progressing smoothly, the COVID-19 situation remains unstable. As of midnight on the 12th, there were 488 new confirmed cases, marking the fourth consecutive day with cases in the 400s.

The number of domestic variant virus infections has increased to 257. The quarantine authorities emphasize that since variant viruses are increasing globally, South Korea cannot be complacent. In fact, 68 cases of variant virus infections originating from California, USA, have been recorded; among them, 23 were entrants from the USA and Mexico, but the rest were cases infected domestically.

Fake news such as "vaccines alter genes" and "vaccination causes blindness" are spreading online, and there are claims that the vaccination pace is slow.

However, looking specifically, South Korea's vaccination rate is 0.96% of the population, while Japan, which started vaccinations ten days earlier, has a rate of 0.1%, indicating that South Korea's pace is relatively faster. Of course, rapid progress is important, but safe vaccination is even more crucial.

The government has decided to extend the current social distancing measures until the 28th. Residents are reminded that strictly following quarantine rules is the only way to prevent the spread of infection in the metropolitan area, and are urged to actively comply with government policies such as the ban on gatherings of five or more people and business restrictions after 10 p.m.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden announced in a national address that starting May 1, all adults will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccination so that small gatherings can take place during the Independence Day holiday in July.

Vaccination is the beginning of regaining lost daily life. Residents are encouraged to trust the government and continue to make an effort as they have done so far to win the war against COVID-19.

Now, I will explain the current COVID-19 status in Gangnam-gu.

This is the status of confirmed cases in Gangnam-gu. As of this day, the 1,382nd confirmed case was reported. Cases 1,378 to 1,380 were family members of previously confirmed Gangnam-gu residents, and cases 1,381 and 1,382 tested positive after contact with previously confirmed Gangnam-gu residents.

Currently, 956 people are under self-quarantine managed by Gangnam-gu, including 602 overseas entrants and 354 domestic contacts.

The cumulative number of specimen tests conducted at the Gangnam-gu Public Health Center screening clinic and temporary screening clinics is 245,128. Of the 2,109 tests conducted the previous day, 35 were overseas entrants and 2,074 were domestic residents.

According to Seoul City, in the past two weeks, 43 cases involving gatherings of five or more people were detected, involving 100 people. Additionally, cluster infections have occurred consecutively in facilities such as foreign worker centers, and confirmed cases have increased in schools since reopening.

In response, Gangnam-gu continues on-site inspections of vulnerable groups such as workers in call centers and multi-level marketing companies, which are enclosed and crowded facilities, as well as foreign workers and homeless people.

In particular, starting this Monday, on-site inspections are being conducted at 10 tourist accommodations employing foreign workers. Joint inspections will also be conducted by the education office and academy association by next Wednesday at 177 language institutes attended by kindergarten and elementary to middle school students.

Going forward, all educational institutions will be continuously managed to ensure strict compliance with quarantine guidelines.

Meanwhile, Gangnam-gu has designated March and April as the 'Spring Special Environmental Cleanup Period' and is conducting thorough cleaning to remove accumulated grime from every corner.

Forty-four vehicles, including water spraying trucks and dust suction trucks, are deployed to meticulously clean bus and taxi stops, parks, etc., with 700 employees from the district office and community centers participating daily to disinfect facilities, clean back alleys, and remove illegal advertisements.

In line with being ranked first in cleanliness by Seoul citizens for two consecutive years, Gangnam-gu pledges to continue its best efforts in improving street environments and proactive daily quarantine measures.

The 'Mimiwi Gangnam COVID-19 Briefing,' which started on March 31 last year to provide detailed information on Gangnam-gu's COVID-19 response and address residents' concerns, marks its 100th session today. While a 100th broadcast might typically be a special program, it has been prepared as usual to align with the briefing's purpose.

The 'Mimiwi Briefing' is the only regular COVID-19 briefing among domestic local governments, including metropolitan governments, produced entirely by Gangnam-gu office staff from the first session to the present.

Inspired by the briefings conducted by New York Governor Cuomo, I personally came up with the idea. During the 100 broadcasts, thanks to the support of many, 26 contents have exceeded 10,000 views, with an average view count of 7,800.

I believe it has helped protect residents' health and alleviate anxiety. I would like to once again express my gratitude to the production team, medical staff, and district office officials who have been fighting COVID-19 fiercely on the front lines for over a year.