Haenam-gun, Early Containment of COVID-19 Spread Through Proactive Quarantine Measures

Rapid Containment of Dabangs Cluster Infection, No Additional Cases Since the 1st

Extensive and Swift Diagnostic Testing Achieved Through Movement Restrictions

Residents are waiting to get tested at the Songjimyeon temporary screening clinic. ⓒ Asia Economy

[Haenam＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Hyun] Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do is attracting attention by early blocking the spread of COVID-19 through proactive measures centered on coffee shops.

According to the county on the 2nd, since the first confirmed case of a business owner operating an entertainment establishment in Songji-myeon on the 27th of last month, 24 confirmed cases related to coffee shops have occurred.

Among them, 23 cases except for one occurred within Songji-myeon, indicating that the spread of COVID-19 was limited to the township-level area.

Also, with 15 cases on the 28th of last month as the highest, followed by 4 on the 29th, 2 each on the 30th and 31st, and no further confirmed cases on the 1st, expectations are rising that the situation may be resolved early.

On the dawn of the 27th of last month, immediately after the first confirmed case occurred, the county installed a mobile screening clinic in Songji-myeon and activated an emergency contact network to guide residents on movement restrictions and diagnostic testing through village heads, taking on-site response measures.

Additionally, on the same day, as a worker who had worked at a coffee shop in Haenam was confirmed positive in Busan, County Governor Myeong Hyun-gwan held an emergency countermeasure meeting, estimating many hidden infections in the Songji area. He judged that rapid response was most necessary and issued an administrative order recommending movement restrictions for Songji residents, diagnostic testing, and refraining from operating entertainment facilities.

The administrative order recommending COVID-19 diagnostic testing and movement restrictions for all residents living in Songji-myeon shortened the time required for contact tracing and created conditions to complete testing in a short period.

Through two appeals to the public and emergency duty without weekends by staff, diagnostic testing proceeded rapidly, with a total of 8,661 tests conducted between the 27th and 31st of last month: 5,070 at the Songji-myeon mobile screening clinic and 3,591 at the public health center screening clinic.

Moreover, the county conducted multifaceted epidemiological investigations not only based on verbal statements from confirmed cases but also using the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s Epidemiological Investigation Support System (EISS), identifying hidden close contacts, isolating them first, and then testing, which led to the discovery of one additional positive case.

With rapid and extensive diagnostic testing and swift classification and isolation of contacts, it is evaluated that COVID-19 could be contained early without crossing the boundaries of Songji-myeon.

During the weekend, the county is rechecking quarantine sites through emergency duty of all departments, and as the number of self-quarantined individuals surges, all staff have been mobilized to manage them on a one-to-one basis, dedicating full administrative power to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within the region.

Currently, about 400 residents are under self-quarantine, and the county assigns one staff member per individual for quarantine management.

Governor Myeong Hyun-gwan stated, “Despite this being the first cluster infection in Haenam-gun, proactive measures allowed us to block the spread early. We thank the residents who voluntarily cooperated with diagnostic testing and movement restrictions. Since many residents are still under self-quarantine, we will do our best to prevent COVID-19 spread through thorough quarantine management and monitoring.”

Haenam=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Hyun kh0424@asiae.co.kr

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