Mapo Agricultural and Marine Products Market to Reopen from Midnight on the 13th

Operation Resumption for Businesses with Negative COVID-19 Secondary Test within 3 Days as of the 13th... Mandatory PCR Testing Every 3 Days and Ban on Dining in Groups of 2 or More for Market Vendors and Workers

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Mapo-gu (Mayor Yoo Dong-gyun) announced that the administrative order to close the Mapo Agricultural and Marine Products Market, which was issued on the 8th due to the spread of COVID-19, will be lifted starting from midnight on the 13th as the spread of COVID-19 in the market has entered a stabilization phase.

Since the first confirmed case on the 25th of last month, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases related to the Mapo Agricultural and Marine Products Market had been continuously increasing. However, after the market closure on the 8th, the number of new cases sharply decreased to 1-2 per day, and on the 12th, no additional confirmed cases among Mapo-gu residents were reported.

Accordingly, the district determined that the initial goal of blocking community spread of COVID-19 had been achieved. Based on the joint meeting held at 3 p.m. on the 12th with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and the Seoul Epidemiological Investigation Office, as well as considering the efforts to block COVID-19 at the Mapo Agricultural and Marine Products Market, it was decided to reopen the market.

However, businesses eligible for lifting the market closure administrative order must have completed a second COVID-19 test and received a negative result within three days as of the 13th. Furthermore, after reopening, market merchants and workers are required to undergo at least two proactive COVID-19 tests at three-day intervals.

The Mapo-gu Facilities Management Corporation is working with the Mapo Agricultural and Marine Products Market Merchants Association and tenant stores to establish self-help measures to prevent COVID-19 recurrence and ensure safe market operations after reopening.

Merchants and workers at the Mapo Agricultural and Marine Products Market plan to conduct regular proactive COVID-19 testing regardless of symptoms after reopening, making every effort to block COVID-19 at its source. Additionally, merchants and workers will prohibit dining in groups of two or more within the market to eliminate infection risks, and a self-patrol team will be activated to monitor compliance with quarantine rules such as mask-wearing and hand sanitization.

Moreover, an Ansim Call system will be installed to manage market visitors, and efforts will be made to ensure safe market operations through enhanced ventilation in enclosed spaces such as restrooms and continuous overall disinfection.

Alongside this, the district plans to continuously encourage COVID-19 vaccination aiming for full vaccination of all merchants and workers, preparing for visitors to use the market with confidence.

The district stated that if confirmed COVID-19 cases occur at any store after the reopening of the Mapo Agricultural and Marine Products Market despite these preventive measures, immediate closure of the affected store will be enforced.

Mayor Yoo Dong-gyun of Mapo-gu said, “It is fortunate that the regional infection at the Mapo Agricultural and Marine Products Market, which was rapidly escalating, has entered a stabilization phase. We will make every effort to prevent the recurrence of such situations by thoroughly blocking the spread of COVID-19 and will continue to respond proactively to protect the safety of our residents.”

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