Suwon City Prepares Quarantine Facilities for COVID-19 Contacts

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Suwon City announced on the 17th that it has independently secured facilities for those who have contacted confirmed COVID-19 patients to use during their self-quarantine period.

Accordingly, starting from the 18th, the city will utilize 30 guest rooms (1st and 2nd floors) in the accommodation building of the Suwon Youth Hostel in Seo-dun-dong, Gwonseon-gu, Suwon City as a temporary facility for contacts. The target for facility admission is volunteers among those who have received self-quarantine notification after contacting confirmed COVID-19 patients.

The health center will review the residential environment of interested individuals and recommend facility quarantine to those deemed to need it. The facility can be used for up to two weeks until self-quarantine is lifted.

One room will be assigned per admitted person, allowing a total of 30 people to use the facility. However, children 12 years old and under and people with disabilities can have caregivers admitted with them. Admitted individuals will be provided with meal boxes (three times a day), water, snacks, and other items. Each room is equipped with a television, refrigerator, toiletries, books, and other necessary living items.

Additionally, a designated doctor and nurse will be assigned to each admitted person to manage their health. If any symptoms develop in admitted individuals, the health center will be notified immediately and measures will be taken. Target admission individuals will be transported to the Suwon Youth Hostel by health center ambulances or emergency medical institution ambulances.

Admitted individuals are prohibited from leaving the facility or receiving visitors during the quarantine period. When leaving for medical treatment or other essential reasons, they must contact the relevant health center and follow instructions from the health center.

If no symptoms develop during the 14 days following notification of self-quarantine status, admitted individuals can be discharged at the discretion of the relevant health center.

During the period the Suwon Youth Hostel is used as a temporary facility, external vehicle access will be completely restricted. Only essential personnel will be allowed to enter and exit, with enhanced security control. Additionally, disinfection of the access road to the Suwon Youth Hostel and the building surroundings will be conducted regularly.

The city currently held a meeting on the 14th with community leaders including the chairman of the resident autonomy committee in Seo-dun-dong where the Suwon Youth Hostel is located and sought understanding, stating "we will utilize the Suwon Youth Hostel as a temporary facility." Residents pledged cooperation, saying "we will share the difficulties with those subject to self-quarantine."

Following the occurrence of the 20th confirmed patient (Cheoncheon-dong, Suwon), the city discussed quarantine measures for confirmed patient contacts and prepared its own temporary facility. The 20th confirmed patient contracted the virus from the 15th confirmed patient, who was a relative living in the same building.

Mayor Yeom Tae-young visited the Suwon Youth Hostel on the 17th to thoroughly inspect preparations and held a meeting with residents. Mayor Yeom stated, "we will strictly control the living facility and transparently disclose information related to facility operations to residents," and "I sincerely thank the residents for empathizing with and understanding the purpose of facility operations." He added, "this will become a good example of strengthening regional response to infectious diseases."

He continued, "in order for the nation to respond more effectively to infectious diseases, basic local governments must strengthen their own infectious disease response capabilities," and "the city will continue to think about ways to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and will implement all measures that can be taken by basic local governments."

As of 5 p.m. on the 17th, Suwon City has 2 confirmed patients, 18 suspected patients, 15 self-quarantine targets, and 39 active surveillance targets due to COVID-19.