Yeongdeungpo-gu, All-Out Preemptive Response Before Raising COVID-19 Social Distancing to Level 4

Senior and Youth Facilities, Public Sports Facilities Operation Immediately Suspended... Effective July 10... Yeouido Financial District, Restaurants, Academies, Study Rooms Under Comprehensive On-Site Inspection... Temporary Screening Clinic Set Up in Yeouido Park from July 12 to Curb Infection Sources Early

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Yeongdeungpo-gu (Mayor Chae Hyun-il) is implementing a ‘special quarantine measure’ including the full and partial suspension of operations at public multi-use facilities before the ‘Level 4 social distancing in the metropolitan area’ measure announced by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) on July 9, expansion of temporary screening clinics, and proactive strengthening of quarantine.

The district is taking immediate preemptive action before the implementation date of the Level 4 measure on July 12, in response to the current trend where the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases is breaking records daily and the highly transmissible Delta variant is spreading mainly in the metropolitan area.

◇ Immediate Suspension of Public Multi-use Facilities Before Level 4 Upgrade

Considering the recent surge in confirmed cases among young people, the district will immediately suspend operations of facilities frequently visited by youth starting July 10, ahead of the Level 4 upgrade on July 12.

Operations will be fully suspended at the district-run youth reading rooms, small libraries, village libraries, youth autonomous cultural spaces, and youth culture houses established to support youth cultural, artistic, and autonomous activities.

Additionally, the Cheongyang Modu-hyu Youth Campground will limit operation to less than 30% of the reserved capacity for existing reservations only, and no further reservations will be accepted.

Along with this, district and private senior centers, which had been open only to vaccinated elderly, will cease operations following the Level 4 upgrade. Yeongdeungpo 1st and 2nd Sports Centers, Yeongdeungpo Cultural Center, multipurpose badminton gymnasium, climbing arena, Daerim Sports Ground, and all sports facilities along the Anyangcheon Stream will also fully suspend operations starting July 10. However, care welfare facilities for the disabled, elderly, and children such as residential facilities for the disabled and daycare centers will operate normally, with programs and activities limited to small groups and minimal participants.

◇ Strengthened Comprehensive Quarantine Measures

Quarantine measures will also be strengthened in Yeouido, where many call centers, financial institutions, and other companies are concentrated, as well as in academies, private tutoring centers, and study cafes.

Until July 25, on-site inspections and non-face-to-face checks via online and phone will be conducted at 442 financial institutions, including call centers, to ensure compliance with quarantine rules.

On July 9, the district visited the ‘Korea Financial Investment Association’ in Yeouido to guide the operation of the Yeouido temporary screening clinic and requested cooperation for proactive testing of essential personnel among financial institution workers.

Inspections of food service establishments and entertainment venues in Yeouido will continue.

The district office, consumer food hygiene inspectors, and teams will visit general restaurants, cafes, and entertainment pubs during lunch and dinner hours when many office workers gather simultaneously, focusing on violations of gathering bans, visitor log maintenance, and table distancing.

Furthermore, in accordance with Seoul City’s ‘Administrative Order for Proactive COVID-19 Testing of Restaurant and Cafe Operators and Workers to Prevent Spread,’ proactive COVID-19 testing for operators and workers will be conducted for 19 days from July 13 to 30.

Businesses violating quarantine rules will face fines and up to 10 days of business suspension, while those violating gathering bans will be fined up to 3 million KRW.

Inspections will also be thoroughly conducted at 829 academies, private tutoring centers, reading rooms, and study cafes in the district. Compliance with distancing measures such as desk arrangement, ventilation, temperature checks, and hand sanitization will be strictly monitored.

Regarding school quarantine measures, close cooperation between the education office and the district will ensure careful management. Joint inspections will be conducted by teams of two education and district officials to check compliance with quarantine rules at private tutoring centers and academy districts.

Promotion of cooperation with the administrative order for diagnostic testing of academy and tutoring center workers, effective from July 8, will be intensified. Information about COVID-19 diagnostic testing for all workers including instructors, staff, and drivers will be posted on the district website and provided during on-site visits.

A ‘Self-Inspection Team’ consisting of public officials, police, and volunteer crime prevention officers will patrol shopping districts, outdoor parks, and major subway stations frequently visited by young and middle-aged people to encourage compliance.

Organized by the district office and 18 community service centers, patrols will cover Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo Samgakji, Mullae Creative Village, Yeongdeungpo Station, Dangsan Station areas, and vulnerable spots in each neighborhood, focusing on compliance with operating hours, number of users, and social distancing.

Nighttime crackdowns on outdoor drinking at street stalls and convenience stores after 10 p.m. will also be conducted. Eating and drinking during private gatherings at Anyangcheon Stream, Dorimcheon Stream, and major parks in the district will be strictly controlled.

Special quarantine measures for district employees are also underway. Private gatherings and dinners among employees are completely banned, and employees are encouraged to go straight home after work.

◇ Expansion of Temporary Screening Clinics in Yeouido Park

Starting July 12, additional temporary screening clinics will operate within Yeouido Park.

Through the operation of health centers and temporary screening clinics in Dorim-dong and Yeouido, the district aims to secure a daily testing capacity of over 5,000 tests to detect hidden infections early and fully contain the spread.

Detailed information about the operation of temporary screening clinics can be found on the Yeongdeungpo-gu official website.

Mayor Chae Hyun-il of Yeongdeungpo-gu said, “To overcome the current crisis, the active cooperation and participation of residents is essential. We ask everyone to strictly follow hygiene rules such as wearing masks, washing hands, and social distancing anywhere and anytime, as well as the CDSCH’s Level 4 measure prohibiting gatherings of three or more people.” He added, “We will prioritize the lives and safety of 380,000 residents and devote all efforts to proactive COVID-19 response and flawless quarantine.”

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