Mokpo Chooses Preemptive COVID-19 Testing... 'Short-Term Case Increase but Second Wave Prevented'

'Continuous Crew COVID-19 Cases' Additional Screening Stations Operated Near Coastal Areas

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Jeong Seunghyun] Amid ongoing COVID-19 infections, Mokpo City in Jeonnam has successfully prevented a second wave of spread by conducting comprehensive testing and proactive screening for all citizens.

As of the 18th, there are 53 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Mokpo, with 16 identified through epidemiological investigations. The indiscriminate infection cases caused by the second wave appear to be largely under control.

Since the peak of 86 confirmed cases on the 14th, the number of new infections has been declining: 78 on the 15th, 61 on the 16th, 57 on the 17th, and 53 on the 18th.

In particular, as confirmed cases among local seafarers continue to emerge, the city has added a temporary screening clinic at the Samhakdo Korea Island Promotion Agency parking lot starting from the 18th, concentrating administrative efforts on blocking further spread.

The clinic operates from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the city plans to actively promote testing among departing and arriving seafarers and fishing associations to increase the testing rate.

Additionally, the city operates a mobile screening clinic that visits workplaces. On the first day, the 17th, it visited Company A in the Sanjeong Industrial Complex and collected samples from 103 individuals.

The mobile screening targets companies with 50 or more employees and group living (or usage) facilities. If two or more businesses jointly apply and meet the 50-person threshold, the location can be selected by agreement among the applicants as one site. Companies, facilities, or institutions wishing to be tested can apply to the Mokpo City Safety General Division.

Separately, the city plans to operate mobile screening clinic visits targeting about 900 people from 50 companies in rotation at Dae-yang Industrial Complex (20th, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.), Sapjin Industrial Complex (20th, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.), and Sanjeong Industrial Complex (21st, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.).

The city continues to monitor compliance with quarantine rules at workplaces employing foreigners, construction sites, public transportation, indoor sports facilities, colateks, academies, religious facilities, performance venues, movie theaters, and traditional markets.

Furthermore, to alleviate the workload of dedicated departments due to the increase in confirmed cases and to establish a stable response system, a rapid response team responsible for administrative support will be launched from the 19th.

A city official stated, “Although the number of confirmed cases increased temporarily due to comprehensive and proactive testing, the second wave of infections and spread has been contained. The city will maintain a full-scale COVID-19 prevention posture and do its utmost to protect the health of its citizens.”

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