Seoul Districts Fight to Stop the 4th Wave of the Pandemic! ...Special Orders Issued Including Installation of Temporary Screening Centers

Temporary Screening Clinics Added to Find Hidden Infections in the Area... Alcohol Crackdowns Conducted in Parks and Other Locations

Park Jun-hee, the mayor of Gwanak-gu, is visiting the screening clinic and discussing quarantine measures with the officials.

Sogang University Station History Plaza Temporary Screening Clinic

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seoul's 25 autonomous districts, including Gwanak-gu, Geumcheon-gu, Gangbuk-gu, Dobong-gu, Guro-gu, Gwangjin-gu, and Mapo-gu, have launched an all-out effort to prevent the fourth wave of COVID-19 by adding temporary screening clinics.

These district offices are working hard to curb the spread of COVID-19 through prompt testing while accelerating measures such as banning drinking in parks.

Gwanak-gu (District Mayor Park Jun-hee) will operate an additional temporary screening clinic starting from the 13th to respond to the rapidly spreading COVID-19 centered in the metropolitan area. The district has installed a temporary screening clinic at Nakseongdae Park (77 Nakseongdae-ro), which is easily accessible to residents, to maintain a rapid diagnostic testing system to block the spread of infection in the area.

The temporary screening clinic offers free testing to anyone regardless of social distancing level, epidemiological link to confirmed cases, or presence of symptoms. Operating hours are weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekends (Saturdays and public holidays) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., closed on Sundays, with a break for disinfection from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. daily.

The district will operate the clinic for two months with three medical staff responsible for specimen collection and disinfection, plus additional administrative staff for temperature checks and guidance, with the possibility of extension depending on the situation.

Accordingly, the district operates a total of three sites including the public health center screening clinic (145 Gwanak-ro) and the Sillim Sports Center (13 Nangok-ro 58-gil) temporary screening clinic.

Since the 1st, in response to the surge in confirmed cases, the public health center screening clinic has extended its operating hours to weekdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and weekends (Saturday and Sunday) and public holidays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Non-operating and disinfection times: weekdays 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.; weekends 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.)

Meanwhile, the district plans to focus more on quarantine management during the two weeks of strict level 4 social distancing.

Since the 1st, special inspections at quarantine sites have been underway, targeting local entertainment facilities, general restaurants, singing rooms, PC rooms, religious facilities, and academies. Inspection teams for each facility type have been formed to check for violations of quarantine rules.

During the level 4 social distancing period, various guidance and inspections will be conducted more thoroughly according to the revised plan, and administrative measures such as immediate fines and prosecution will be strictly enforced upon detection of quarantine rule violations.

The district is also accelerating vaccination efforts. It operates two vaccination centers and from the 13th will conduct autonomous vaccinations targeting about 9,000 people in seven occupations with high transmission risk due to frequent contact with the public, including academy workers, transportation workers, sanitation workers, delivery drivers, and childcare workers.

From the 26th, Moderna vaccinations for those aged 50 and over will be conducted in parallel with local entrusted medical institutions.

Additionally, under the administrative order for proactive testing of academy, karaoke, PC room, restaurant, and cafe workers, the district is guiding the target groups to get tested promptly.

The district is concentrating all administrative power across departments on epidemiological investigations, self-quarantine monitoring, vaccination, and various quarantine rule inspections to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

District Mayor Park Jun-hee said, “Given the severe situation with daily record-high COVID-19 cases, we ask all residents to strictly follow social distancing and quarantine rules and to visit screening clinics promptly if they have cough, fever, or suspicious symptoms.” He added, “The district will mobilize all administrative resources to thoroughly prevent the spread of COVID-19 until it is eradicated.”

Geumcheon-gu (District Mayor Yoo Sung-hoon) will add and operate a temporary screening clinic at the Doksan Health Branch from the 15th to detect hidden infections early. Operating hours are weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturdays and public holidays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., closed on Sundays. Staff includes three medical personnel and eight administrative workers.

Geumcheon-gu operates three screening clinics: Geumcheon-gu Public Health Center, Pilseung Apartment in front of the district office, and Doksan Health Branch. Additionally, an administrative order banning nighttime drinking has been announced for 60 parks and rest areas in the district, effective from the 13th, prohibiting drinking in park green spaces from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next day.

Nighttime joint crackdowns will be conducted targeting places with many residents and frequent drinking reports such as Geumbit Park, Geumnarae Central Park, and rest areas around the ginkgo tree protection site.

If drinking is detected, a warning will be issued first, and if ignored, a fine of up to 100,000 KRW will be imposed. Quarantine costs related to COVID-19 testing and treatment arising from violations of the administrative order may be claimed from the violators.

The district will also conduct comprehensive special quarantine inspections on high-risk facilities such as entertainment venues, singing rooms, and religious facilities, as well as traditional markets, village bus companies, and construction sites.

Geumcheon-gu Mayor Yoo Sung-hoon said, “To prevent the fourth wave of COVID-19, maintaining strong social distancing and active participation from residents is essential. We ask residents to actively cooperate with the district’s quarantine measures despite any inconvenience.”

Gangbuk-gu (District Mayor Park Kyum-soo) began operating an additional temporary screening clinic from the 13th to respond to the surge in COVID-19 diagnostic tests. The clinic is located at the pilot public parking lot behind the district office (10 Hancheon-ro 139ga-gil). This is the second temporary testing site after Gangbuk-gu Citizen Sports Complex. Since the fourth wave is spreading mainly among young people, the clinic was set up near Suyu Station, a popular area for them.

Operating hours are weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On weekends and public holidays, the start time is the same but closing time is reduced to 1 p.m., four hours shorter. There is a disinfection break from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. on weekdays, during which testing is paused. No breaks on weekends and public holidays. Anyone can receive free anonymous testing here.

Since the 9th, the district has issued an administrative order banning drinking in 85 locations including parks, village squares, and rest areas. The restriction is from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next day, with a fine of 100,000 KRW for violations. The district has formed inspection teams to conduct special nighttime checks.

Additionally, the district issued an administrative order requiring restaurant and cafe operators and workers to undergo proactive COVID-19 testing by July 21. PC room and singing room operators and workers must be tested by June 28.

To prevent confirmed cases in PC room indoor smoking rooms, the district recommended operators block the smoking room doors. If confirmed cases occur in related facilities, closure or suspension orders will be issued. Compliance with quarantine rules in multi-use facilities is regularly checked, and strong measures will be taken if violations are found.

Dobong-gu (District Mayor Lee Dong-jin) installed an additional temporary screening clinic at the underpass plaza of Chang-dong Station from the 12th to block local transmission amid the COVID-19 spread.

The district explained that since COVID-19 is spreading mainly among young people, the additional clinic was set up at Chang-dong Station, which has a large commuting population, for proactive testing.

The temporary screening clinic operates weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekends and public holidays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with a disinfection break from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. on weekdays.

The Dobong-gu Public Health Center screening clinic is also operating extended hours: weekdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., weekends and public holidays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

From July, the district will form joint inspection teams to conduct nighttime quarantine rule checks around Chang-dong Station, Dobongsan Riverside Park, Jungnangcheon, Uicheon, and parks.

Guro-gu (District Mayor Lee Sung) announced on the 13th that it will implement strengthened quarantine measures for proactive response to the rapid increase in new COVID-19 cases.

First, under the nighttime drinking ban administrative order, five special inspection teams will conduct focused checks on about 50 locations including parks, green spaces, and sports facilities. Drinking is prohibited from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next day, and violators may face fines up to 100,000 KRW. Safety belts have been installed on benches, pergolas, and rest facilities in parks to enforce social distancing.

Karaoke rooms, PC rooms, and restaurants face operating restrictions after 10 p.m., and private gatherings are limited to two people after 6 p.m. Strengthened quarantine rules apply to all entertainment venues including nightclubs, colatecs, and holdem pubs, with notification messages sent and special inspection teams conducting at least weekly checks.

All business owners and workers in karaoke rooms and PC rooms must undergo proactive COVID-19 testing by the 28th of this month, and those in restaurants and cafes by July 21. Failure to test within the period may result in fines up to 2 million KRW.

Temporary screening clinics for proactive testing are also expanded. Until the 23rd, Seoul’s mobile screening clinic operates at Exit 1 of Guro Digital Complex Station (Facility Management Corporation parking lot) from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays.

From the 14th, an additional temporary screening clinic will be installed at the northern plaza of Oryu-dong Station (Exit 3), operating weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The existing Guro-gu Public Health Center screening clinic operates weekdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., weekends and public holidays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Guro Station temporary screening clinic operates weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Indoor and outdoor district sports facilities are closed, and private indoor sports facilities have their capacity limited from one person per 4㎡ to one per 8㎡, with shower rooms closed. Religious facilities only allow non-face-to-face services such as online worship, mass, and ceremonies, with special inspections on compliance. Childcare centers are fully closed except for emergency care, with no external visitors, special activities, or group events allowed.

Gwangjin-gu (District Mayor Kim Sun-gap) has fully closed all senior centers and veterans’ halls in the district, which had resumed operations centered on vaccinated individuals since early June.

The Gwangjin Senior Welfare Center, which was scheduled to operate for vaccinated individuals, is also closed due to the upgrade to level 4. Junggok, Gwangjang, and Jayang social welfare centers have reduced operations, with emergency care programs continuing.

Nursing homes and daycare centers have completely banned outings and overnight stays that were partially allowed for vaccinated individuals, and visits other than non-contact and non-face-to-face methods are prohibited.

Public libraries allow book lending and returns but prohibit use of reference rooms and reading seats. Existing programs have moved online, and general reading rooms are closed.

Joint inspections by public, private, and police authorities are conducted on entertainment venues and general restaurants, with focused checks on compliance at academies, cultural and sports facilities, department stores, and large marts. The district also plans to actively promote the administrative order for proactive testing of academy, restaurant, cafe, karaoke, and PC room operators and workers.

Mapo-gu (District Mayor Yoo Dong-gyun) has launched an all-out effort including adding temporary screening clinics to quickly block community spread of COVID-19.

This measure is based on the judgment that maintaining a rapid diagnostic testing system capable of breaking silent transmission chains is essential to curb the current COVID-19 spread amid concerns of the fourth wave.

The district installed and has been operating a temporary screening clinic at Hongik Culture Park (19-3 Wausan-ro 21-gil), in front of Hongik University, a high foot traffic area, since the 12th to allow more people to get tested.

The temporary screening clinic offers free testing to anyone regardless of symptoms, operating weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., with a disinfection break from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays.

The district will operate the clinic for two months with three medical staff responsible for specimen collection and disinfection, plus additional administrative staff for temperature checks and guidance, with the possibility of extension depending on the situation.

Thus, the district operates three screening clinics: Mapo-gu Public Health Center screening clinic, Sogang University Station plaza temporary screening clinic, and Hongik Culture Park temporary screening clinic.

Additionally, to allow office workers to get tested after work, the district extended the operating hours of the Mapo-gu Public Health Center screening clinic from July 1.

Accordingly, the public health center screening clinic operates weekdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and weekends and public holidays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Considering the summer heatwave and rainy season, the district installed shade tents and canopies for waiting residents, provided seating for vulnerable groups, and prepared umbrellas for sudden rain to ensure comfortable testing conditions.

Especially, the public health center screening clinic, which conducts about 1,500 tests daily, has installed canopies and shade tents on the screening clinic and the district office’s second-floor deck, posted waiting time notices, and provided cutoff points for testing to support efficient testing.

District Mayor Yoo Dong-gyun said, “With the heatwave and rainy season overlapping, we are concerned about the inconvenience to residents and medical staff visiting the screening clinic. We will do our best to provide a more comfortable environment for testing.”

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