6700 Members of Autonomous Disaster Prevention Teams in 25 Seoul Districts Conduct Mass Disinfection of Facilities Vulnerable to COVID-19 and Heatwaves

Comprehensive Quarantine Measures Amid Overlapping Challenges of COVID-19 and Heatwave... Continued Activities Until September 30
Intensive Disinfection of Multi-use Facilities Including Heatwave Shelters, Playgrounds, Bus Stops, and Public Restrooms

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The autonomous disaster prevention corps, consisting of 6,737 ordinary citizens from 25 autonomous districts of Seoul, announced on the 27th that they will simultaneously carry out disinfection activities across various regions until September 30, amid the difficult situation of the overlapping spread of COVID-19 and record-breaking heatwaves.

They will focus on disinfecting vulnerable facilities expected to be frequently used by citizens, such as heatwave shelters and children's playgrounds, as well as other multi-use facilities, while also volunteering to guide visitors at local vaccination centers.

The Seoul Autonomous Disaster Prevention Corps is a local-level private volunteer organization formed through voluntary citizen participation. Considering the severe COVID-19 situation and heatwave risks, the Seoul Autonomous Disaster Prevention Corps Federation has jointly established regional activity plans, and members from all autonomous districts have decided to engage in comprehensive activities. Previously, each district’s autonomous disaster prevention corps conducted disinfection activities sporadically according to local circumstances.

The Seoul Autonomous Disaster Prevention Corps will especially focus on thoroughly disinfecting 1,615 heatwave shelters and 9,067 children’s playgrounds, which are expected to be frequented by elderly people and children seeking relief from the heat. In addition, disinfection efforts will be strengthened at multi-use facilities heavily used by citizens, such as shade shelters, pavilions, subway stations, bus stops, bicycle parking lots, and public restrooms.

Seoul City will support safe disinfection activities during the heatwave by providing 2,000 disinfectants, 52,000 masks, 425 boxes of gloves, and 42,000 cleaning cloths.

Ra Hyun-sook, president of the Seoul Autonomous Disaster Prevention Corps Federation, said, “We initiated heatwave disinfection activities to help vulnerable groups struggling due to COVID-19, even if just a little. Although the spread of COVID-19 is severe and record-breaking heatwaves continue daily, limiting the members’ activities, we will protect citizens’ safety through organized and effective disinfection efforts.”

Hwang Seung-il, director of the Seoul Safety Support Division, said, “With the overlapping challenges of COVID-19 and heatwaves causing a shortage of government workers, voluntary activities by private citizens are a great help in COVID-19 disinfection. Seoul City will actively support the activities of the Autonomous Disaster Prevention Corps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and ensure that heatwave-vulnerable groups can safely get through the summer.”

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