Osan City Mobilizes All-Out Efforts to Prevent COVID-19 Spread Following First Confirmed Case

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Suh Dong-young] Osan Mayor Kwak Sang-wook announced on the 29th at City Hall the response measures and plans to prevent community transmission and spread of COVID-19 following the first confirmed case in the city.

The city announced that a couple in their 50s residing in Osan tested positive for COVID-19 that morning. They are the first confirmed cases in the city.

Mayor Kwak Sang-wook stated, "We are conducting epidemiological investigations into the movement paths and contacts of the confirmed cases, and we will disclose the results quickly and transparently upon completion of the investigation," adding "Going forward, we will mobilize all administrative resources to prevent the spread of the virus in the community."

According to the response plan, the city will rapidly disclose information related to the confirmed cases' movement paths through disaster safety text messages, official SNS, and the city website to alleviate public concerns. The city plans to implement comprehensive quarantine measures including closure of movement routes once detailed epidemiological investigation results are available.

The city previously closed two Shincheonji facilities within the city on the 22nd and completed quarantine operations after a large number of COVID-19 cases occurred through the Shincheonji Daegu Church. The city also issued recommendations to restrict gatherings at religious facilities within the city.

Additionally, the city has extended temporary closures of public facilities such as libraries, welfare centers, and sports facilities, while strengthening quarantine efforts at public offices as well as private multipurpose facilities such as PC bangs and movie theaters by conducting fever checks and hand disinfection at city hall entrances.

The city also announced support measures to minimize the impact on the sluggish local economy and residents' inconvenience due to COVID-19 spread. Through the 'Commerce and Industry Council' established on the 4th, the city identified damage situations caused by COVID-19 and announced various support measures for small business owners, including expansion of special guarantee loans, interest rate subsidies, early implementation of facility improvement expenses, and expanded issuance of local currency. The city also increased the number of holidays at the city hall cafeteria to four days per month.

Due to the postponement of kindergarten and elementary, middle, and high school openings and the closure of welfare facilities, the city will also implement 'emergency childcare' services by operating existing facilities and services on a limited basis for the elderly, people with disabilities, and children facing childcare gaps.

Meanwhile, the city announced that it will provide living expenses of up to 1.23 million won to residents who have been discharged from hospitalization or self-quarantine due to COVID-19 infection to ensure their livelihood stability.

The city also plans to establish a joint management and response system with Hanshin University to prepare for the entry of Chinese international students. The city will manage international students from the entry stage and will pursue support measures for self-quarantine including quarantine and provision of supplies.

Mayor Kwak Sang-wook urged, "We will concentrate all of the city's capabilities to prevent regional spread of COVID-19 and establish thorough response systems in each sector," and appealed to citizens, "Please cast aside excessive anxiety and join forces to overcome this situation."