Vaccination, the Start to Regain Lost Daily Life!

Government Predicts "Almost No Elderly Deaths After July If All Seniors Get Vaccinated"... Anthony Fauci, Director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Emphasizes "Very Strong Reason to Get Vaccinated"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Cases of people vaccinated against COVID-19 avoiding infection despite cluster outbreaks are being reported one after another. Recently, in Suncheon, Jeollanam-do, among a family of seven spanning three generations, six were infected, but the only vaccinated elderly person in their 70s was not infected.

Also, last month at a church in Goesan, Chungcheongbuk-do, all but one vaccinated person among 23 attendees were confirmed positive.

The quarantine authorities, while announcing these cases, emphasized, “As the effectiveness of the vaccine is being confirmed, please hurry to make vaccination reservations.”

As of midnight today (21st), 3.77 million people in Korea have completed the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 1.48 million have completed the second dose.

In Gangnam-gu, currently 39,557 people have received the first dose, and 7,582 have completed the second dose. Gangnam-gu recently resumed operations of the second vaccination center, Gangnam Tourism Information Center, last Wednesday after a temporary suspension due to government vaccine supply adjustments. An adverse reaction observation room previously located on the first floor was also set up on the second floor, allowing people to view artworks while waiting.

The Tourism Information Center targets 6,325 residents aged 75 and older from Sinsa-dong, Nonhyeon 1 and 2-dong, Apgujeong, and Cheongdam-dong, while the Ilwon Eco Center targets 17 neighborhoods including Samseong, Daechi, and Yeoksam, with 17,479 eligible residents. The daily vaccination capacity is 900 at the Eco Center and 420 at the Tourism Information Center, totaling 1,300 vaccinations per day.

Gangnam-gu Office will do its best to ensure that all residents aged 75 and older who consent to vaccination receive their shots by the end of June. Eligible individuals will be notified sequentially of their scheduled date and time, with vaccinations proceeding in order of age from oldest to youngest. Additionally, fourteen shuttle buses are operating to help elderly residents travel comfortably.

Furthermore, vaccinations for residents aged 65 to 74 will begin on the 27th, and for those aged 60 to 64 as well as kindergarten, daycare, and first and second grade elementary school teachers on June 7th. Reservations can be made through the Gangnam-gu Call Center or at 174 designated medical institutions within the district. For detailed information about vaccination, please refer to the Gangnam-gu Office website or leaflets available at the district office and community centers.

Meanwhile, analyses have shown that currently available vaccines are effective against the Indian variant of the virus. Following the UK health authorities’ announcement that “the COVID-19 vaccines developed so far have a 97% preventive effect against the Indian variant,” similar results have been reported in the United States.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, emphasized, “This is a very strong reason to get vaccinated.”

The Korean government forecasts that “if all elderly people receive vaccinations, deaths among the elderly will almost cease after July.”

Vaccination is the beginning of regaining lost daily life. Residents are urged to trust the government and participate in vaccination in the prescribed order.

Additionally, recent cluster infections have occurred mainly in indoor sports facilities and academies within the district, causing concern among residents. Like New York in the United States, Gangnam-gu has environmental factors such as high population density and a large floating population that inevitably lead to many cluster infections. Although residents have done well so far, we ask for continued diligent adherence to personal hygiene rules and for those in self-quarantine to strictly follow self-isolation guidelines to minimize confirmed cases in Gangnam-gu.

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

Here is the status of confirmed cases in Gangnam-gu. As of today, cases up to number 2381 have been confirmed. Cases 2365, 2370, 2373, 2377, 2380, and 2381 were confirmed through contact with infected Gangnam-gu residents, while case 2366 was confirmed positive upon entry into the country. Cases 2369 and 2372 were infected through contact with confirmed cases from other regions, and cases 2371, 2374, and 2375 were confirmed as family members of infected Gangnam-gu residents. Cases 2364, 2367, 2368, 2376, 2378, and 2379 were confirmed with symptoms such as sore throat but their infection routes are unknown, and epidemiological investigations are ongoing.

As of today, Gangnam-gu is managing 1,886 people in self-quarantine, of whom 973 are overseas entrants and 913 are domestic contacts.

The cumulative number of tests conducted at Gangnam-gu Public Health Center screening clinics and temporary screening sites is 438,526. Among 3,268 tests conducted the previous day, 43 were overseas entrants and 3,225 were domestic residents.

As of midnight today, 561 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed nationwide, dropping to the 500s for the first time in three days. The number of daily tests fluctuates between 400 and 700, and the quarantine authorities analyze this as a “balanced state” where new cases neither sharply increase nor decrease.

However, caution is advised as variant virus infections are increasing and cluster infections have been confirmed in multi-use facilities such as PC rooms and karaoke rooms.

Since Monday this week, Gangnam-gu has been conducting special on-site inspections of 363 multi-use facilities such as call centers and special sales businesses.

Additionally, monthly disinfection has been conducted since last year at 299 high-risk goshiwon (small lodging facilities) and 52 lodging establishments.

Meanwhile, the online shopping project “Gangnam-gu Small Business Live Project, GangSora,” designed to support small business owners struggling due to COVID-19, is scheduled for its first broadcast today at 6 PM. Women’s clothing will be sold during the broadcast, with broadcaster Hyun-young serving as the show host. Residents are encouraged to participate as purchases can be made on Naver Shopping Live with discounts up to 25%.

As a leading “ontact leader” in Korea, Gangnam-gu plans to hold 70 sessions of “GangSora” by the end of the year to help small business owners who have not secured online sales channels. Small business owners interested in participating should refer to the district office website for application details.

Today, the government decided to extend the current social distancing and ban on private gatherings of five or more people for three weeks. Residents are urged to maintain vigilance, remembering that they and their loved ones can be infected at any time, and to actively comply with the extended government quarantine guidelines.

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