Eunpyeong-gu Supports 'Rapid Antigen Self-Test Kits' for Children Under 12

[Seoul District News] Eunpyeong-gu Provides Kits to 37,000 Children Not Eligible for Vaccination, Leads Omicron Response System Ahead of Lunar New Year... Warm Volunteer Activities for 2022 Lunar New Year in Seodaemun-gu

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Eunpyeong-gu (District Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) is establishing a response system to the spread of Omicron ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday. This measure aligns with the government's announcement to build a 'rapid testing and treatment system' in response to the Omicron spread.

The district is implementing special quarantine measures to protect children under 12 and ensure a safe childcare environment. Rapid antigen self-test kits will be distributed to 37,000 children, including those in home care, daycare centers, kindergartens, and elementary schools.

To ensure timely supply of self-test kits, the district signed agreements with SD Biosensor and Planbiz Global.

On the 27th, the district first supported rapid antigen self-test kits so that children can perform self-tests and attend school immediately after the Lunar New Year holiday. A total of 100,000 tests (7 tests per person per week for 3 weeks) were distributed to 12,500 children in daycare centers and kindergartens where recent group infections occurred.

After the holiday, the remaining 200,000 tests will be distributed to children in home care and elementary school students.

Additionally, the district will strengthen its own quarantine inspections during the special quarantine period. In particular, on-site inspections will be conducted focusing on daycare centers and kindergartens where confirmed cases have occurred within the last three months, checking compliance with quarantine rules and measures taken when cases arise.

Meanwhile, the district urged strict adherence to basic quarantine rules in daycare centers and kindergartens, which are vulnerable to group infections as they are not eligible for vaccination (under 12 years old). To block the inflow of COVID-19 and community Nth infections, participation in mask-wearing and handwashing was encouraged. It was emphasized that anyone?children, staff, or parents?with suspected COVID-19 symptoms should refrain from attending or entering facilities.

A district official said, “We deeply appreciate the efforts of childcare workers and quarantine officials who have protected childcare sites for children's safety during COVID-19. During the Lunar New Year holiday, when population movement is high, we will take the lead in thoroughly blocking the inflow of the Omicron variant to maintain a childcare environment where parents can safely entrust their children.”

Members of the Yeonhui-dong Volunteer Camp in Seodaemun-gu carrying out a winter blanket donation project ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday

Seodaemun-gu (District Mayor Moon Seok-jin) announced that from the 21st to the 28th of this month, designated as the ‘2022 Lunar New Year Intensive Volunteer Week,’ many residents engaged in various volunteer activities, warming the community.

During this period, volunteer activities such as home repairs and delivery of daily necessities and Lunar New Year foods were actively carried out to help vulnerable neighbors have a safe and abundant holiday.

Among the organizations registered with the Seodaemun-gu Volunteer Center, five groups including the volunteer camps of Cheonyeon-dong, Yeonhui-dong, and Hong Eun 1-dong, the Nanumjuri Volunteer Group, and the Baekwoon Home Volunteer Group participated with over 60 volunteers extending helping hands.

Volunteers from the Yeonhui-dong Volunteer Camp purchased winter blankets with 2 million won collected from small donations and gifted them to 60 households. The volunteer camps of Cheonyeon-dong and Hong Eun 1-dong, in cooperation with the Seodaemun Disabled Welfare Center, delivered holiday meal lunch boxes to 30 households with disabled members.

The Seodaemun-gu government employees’ talent-sharing volunteer group ‘Nanumjuri’ visited homes in need to conduct home repair services such as fixing front doors, bathrooms, and replacing fluorescent lights. The ‘Baekwoon Home Volunteer Group’ delivered rice cake soup rice cakes and nuts to 70 elderly living alone households.

Additionally, in Chunghyeon-dong, the Mabom Council delivered fruit gift sets to 30 low-income single-parent families, and the Saemaeul Women's Association provided rice cake soup rice cakes to 100 vulnerable households.

Moreover, the Mabom Councils in Chunghyeon-dong, Hongje 1-dong, and Hongje 2-dong, as well as other neighborhoods in Seodaemun-gu, gifted seaweed, rice cake soup rice cakes, dried yellow croaker, and beef to low-income elderly living alone and middle-aged single-person households, checking on their well-being and spreading warm sharing ahead of the holiday.

Seodaemun-gu Mayor Moon Seok-jin expressed gratitude, saying, “Even in the situation where social isolation is deepening due to COVID-19, thanks to volunteers who care for their neighbors, we will have a joyful and happy Lunar New Year holiday together.”

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