Seoul City Implements 'Level 4 Social Distancing', Operating 5,363 Social Welfare Facilities at '50% Capacity or Less'

Operated by hourly and advance reservation systems... Senior centers operate in principle but may be suspended based on district decisions
Elderly day and night care facilities closed; emergency care in operation

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Seoul City will partially restrict the operation of social welfare facilities in accordance with the revision of social distancing to Level 4.

According to Seoul City on the 13th, the social welfare facilities subject to this measure include comprehensive social welfare centers, senior comprehensive welfare centers, small-scale senior welfare centers, disability welfare centers, disability sports facilities, and disability vocational rehabilitation facilities, totaling 5,363 locations.

Seoul City will first operate comprehensive social welfare centers, senior welfare centers, and disability welfare centers at 50% or less of their capacity with time slots and advance reservations to minimize risk when using the facilities. Comprehensive social welfare centers (98 locations), senior welfare centers (87 locations), and disability welfare centers (51 locations) can operate indoor and outdoor programs, but intense physical activities are prohibited.

Seoul City plans to alleviate emotional isolation caused by limited operations through welfare center user check-in calls and counseling services for seniors and persons with disabilities, as well as providing various visiting programs.

Seoul City will also provide alternative meals at senior cafeterias operated by comprehensive social welfare centers, senior comprehensive welfare centers, and small-scale senior welfare centers to prevent infections within the facilities for low-income seniors receiving free meals. Senior community centers (3,468 locations) used by seniors will operate under the principle of no indoor dining and at 50% or less capacity, but the decision to suspend operations will be made by autonomous districts.

Disability day care facilities (131 locations), vocational rehabilitation facilities (137 locations), lifelong education centers for persons with developmental disabilities (22 locations), and disability sports facilities (7 locations) will continue to operate at 50% or less of their capacity, suspend external instructor programs, and sign language interpretation centers (26 locations) will provide interpretation only for emergency cases.

Day and night care facilities used by seniors, who are most vulnerable to infection, will be closed and operated as emergency care, with no entry allowed for outsiders. Visits, outings, and overnight stays are prohibited in residential facilities such as nursing homes and elderly care facilities (229 locations) and residential facilities for persons with disabilities (45 locations), and video visits using tablet PCs and other methods are encouraged.

However, social welfare facilities will make exceptions such as exemption from advance reservation systems and occupancy limits per area if the facility is composed only of fully vaccinated individuals, provided strict compliance with quarantine rules is maintained. Entry of fully vaccinated volunteers and external instructors will be allowed, and if unvaccinated outsiders enter the facility, they must submit a negative PCR test result within two weeks to gain access.

Kim Seon-soon, Director of Welfare Policy, explained, “Despite the severe spread of COVID-19, Seoul City will take measures to provide services for community users such as seniors and persons with disabilities and minimize care gaps.”

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