Citizens' Groups Including Poverty Solidarity: "Rooming House Residents Confirmed Positive Moved to Facilities Within a Week"

COVID-19 Cases Increased Significantly After With-Corona Policy
But Appropriate Measures Were Not Taken

The '2021 Homeless Memorial Joint Planning Committee' (hereinafter referred to as the Planning Committee), a coalition of 37 civil society organizations including the Solidarity for a Poverty Society and Homeless Action, held a press conference in front of Seoul City Hall on the 1st. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] Since the phased recovery of daily life (With Corona), the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases has significantly increased among the housing-vulnerable groups, but civic organizations claim that they are not receiving appropriate measures.

The '2021 Homeless Memorial Joint Planning Group' (hereafter Planning Group), including the Solidarity for Poverty Society and Homeless Action, held a press conference in front of Seoul City Hall on the 1st, urging Seoul City to promptly prepare transportation plans for confirmed cases among housing-vulnerable groups and treatment measures.

According to the Planning Group's survey of confirmed cases occurring in housing-vulnerable areas such as jjokbang (small rooms) and gosiwon (boarding rooms) in Seoul, the number was estimated to be around 150. The Planning Group pointed out, "Less than a year after about 100 homeless people were confirmed positive in a mass infection at a homeless facility near Seoul Station earlier this year, we are facing another mass infection incident. The outbreak points are spread across multiple areas, the housing types are diverse, and the infections are occurring simultaneously, which is even more concerning."

Choi Bong-myeong, secretary of the Donu-dong Residents' Cooperative, said, "Recently, many confirmed cases have occurred in Donu-dong (jjokbang village), and in some cases, it took 7 days after confirmation to be transferred to a facility," adding, "When confirmed, they are told to stay at home, but residents cannot even properly eat in spaces barely larger than one pyeong (approximately 3.3 square meters)."

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