Haenam-gun Deploys All Staff for 1:1 Management of Self-Quarantined Individuals

Haenam-gun Office Building Exterior Photo by Asia Economy

[Haenam＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Hyun] Jeonnam Haenam-gun is effectively preventing the spread of COVID-19 through thorough management of self-quarantine individuals.

According to the county on the 7th, a COVID-19 cluster infection occurred last month linked to a coffee shop, causing the number of self-quarantine subjects to surge to as many as 470.

In particular, following the cluster infection last month and the rapid increase in self-quarantine subjects, all public officials under the county have been deployed for management. Each quarantined individual is immediately matched 1:1 with a dedicated public official who manages compliance with daily living rules and quarantine measures in real time.

When classified as a self-quarantine subject after contact with a confirmed case, quarantine notification is first made via phone guidance. Then, a dedicated public official wearing protective gear visits the quarantine location in person to deliver the quarantine notice, food supplies, and quarantine materials.

Additionally, the subjects are connected through an app to monitor symptoms three times a day, and real-time management is conducted to check for any departure from the quarantine location. For elderly individuals unfamiliar with smartphone operation or those using 2G phones, more than five direct calls per day are made for continuous confirmation.

Especially, app notifications and unannounced visits at least once every three days focus on verifying whether the quarantine location has been left. If a self-quarantine subject leaves the location, their position is confirmed and they are instructed to return home as part of the management process.

During this process, residents who receive self-quarantine notifications sometimes file complaints or leave quarantine locations, causing difficulties for the dedicated staff.

Moreover, as the number of quarantined individuals increases, various incidents and accidents have occurred. For example, a quarantined individual named Kim was bitten on the face by a dog and was transferred to Gangjin Medical Center, where inpatient treatment is possible. The county is also working hard to support quarantined individuals by transporting them by ambulance for hospital visits, collecting medication for chronic patients, and managing foreign quarantined individuals through translators to ensure no inconvenience during self-quarantine.

The county is also thoroughly managing subjects who violate quarantine rules, such as leaving the quarantine location after leaving their phone there or not answering calls.

Two individuals who left the quarantine location and returned home were given warnings, and two others who visited another quarantined person's home and drank together will be reported under the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act.

Violating self-quarantine rules can result in imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of up to 10 million won. Additionally, those who fail to properly conduct self-diagnosis or violate quarantine may be excluded from emergency disaster relief funds and living support payments.

A county official stated, "We understand that sudden quarantine measures may be confusing and difficult for self-quarantine subjects, but we ask that you prioritize the safety of your neighbors and family by strictly adhering to self-quarantine rules."

Meanwhile, as of the 4th, Haenam-gun has reported a total of 56 confirmed COVID-19 cases, and 467 residents are undergoing self-quarantine.

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

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