Gwanak-gu's Focused Quarantine and Vaccination Efforts to Prevent Summer COVID-19 Spread

Establishing Resident Field Disinfection Duty System, Intensive Inspection and Crackdown on 11,861 Multi-use Facilities... Accelerating COVID-19 Vaccination, Targeting 70% Vaccination Rate for Residents Aged 18 and Over by October

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Junhee) aims to focus on establishing a herd immunity system while preparing thorough quarantine measures to block the spread of infectious diseases, as coexistence with COVID-19 is inevitable this summer as well.

In preparation for increased outdoor activities and outings during the summer, each department and district has established a quarantine duty system for residents' daily life sites such as parks, traditional markets, and bus stops, conducting regular disinfection and sanitation thoroughly.

A joint public-private inspection team has been formed with associations and organizations such as the Sports Council to focus on inspecting and cracking down on ventilation conditions in indoor cooling during summer at 11,861 multi-use and high-risk facilities including restaurants, cafes, PC rooms, and churches, thereby reducing COVID-19 spread damage.

Since April, a special rapid response team for COVID-19 complaints regarding quarantine rule violations such as not wearing masks and private gatherings of five or more people has been operating 24 hours a day.

Mayor Park Junhee said, "When the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in Gwanak-gu last February, I did not expect this long and arduous battle," adding, "The district is responding proactively to quarantine with heightened awareness and mobilizing all administrative power."

The district currently operates two screening clinics for rapid specimen collection and patient transport, one residential treatment center for mild and asymptomatic confirmed cases, and a call center for managing self-quarantined individuals and resolving COVID-19 related inquiries to prevent secondary and tertiary infections.

In particular, since the first confirmed case in Korea, the district has operated a ‘Daily COVID-19 Situation Countermeasure Meeting’ to ensure efficient COVID-19 patient management and thorough quarantine systems work organically, establishing an infectious disease management system tailored to local conditions.

The district has set up a vaccination center at the Gwanak-gu Community Sports Center (Nakseongdae-ro 3-gil 37) to accelerate COVID-19 vaccinations.

Following government guidelines, vaccination targets are classified by priority and expanded sequentially, with plans to vaccinate 70% (360,000 people) of residents aged 18 and over by October.

To ensure smooth vaccination, the district formed the ‘Gwanak-gu Vaccination Promotion Team’ consisting of three divisions and five teams led by the deputy mayor. Additionally, a local medical council composed of related institutions such as the police station, fire station, local medical association, and cooperating hospitals has been established to share vaccination plans and thoroughly prepare support measures for private medical resources.

Besides COVID-19, the district has prepared measures to prevent seasonal diseases requiring attention in summer, such as food poisoning prevention inspections at school and welfare facility cafeterias and street food vendors, inspections of Legionella bacteria habitats causing bacterial pneumonia, and mosquito larva control activities in major habitats like sewers and streams.

Mayor Park Junhee said, "We are making every effort to ensure vaccine supply, management, and operation for thorough quarantine and smooth vaccination during the summer heat," adding, "I am confident that COVID-19 vaccination will protect the health of everyone. I ask all residents for active participation and cooperation so that herd immunity, which allows us all to feel safe, can be achieved as soon as possible."

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