Suwon's COVID-19 Defense Line: Resident Autonomous Quarantine Units

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Resident autonomous quarantine units composed of Suwon residents are contributing to COVID-19 quarantine efforts.

On February 29, a woman in her 20s (Suwon's 11th confirmed case) residing in Yulcheon-dong, Jangan-gu, Suwon, tested positive for COVID-19. She was the first confirmed case in Yulcheon-dong.

That afternoon, members of local organizations in Yulcheon-dong held an emergency response meeting and decided to form an 'autonomous quarantine unit.'

The 'Yulcheon-dong Autonomous Quarantine Unit,' which took its first step on February 29, conducted its 23rd quarantine activity on the 20th of this month.

Until the 5th of this month, the unit carried out disinfection work for two hours starting at 10 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, using backpack sprayers to disinfect commercial establishments throughout Yulcheon-dong, including areas around Sungkyunkwan University Station.

Since May 6, when the COVID-19 quarantine system transitioned to 'social distancing in daily life,' the unit has conducted disinfection and sterilization activities every Wednesday.

The autonomous quarantine unit, headed by Jeong Chan-hae, chairman of Yulcheon-dong Residents' Autonomous Committee, is composed of members from the residents' autonomous committee and heads of organizations. Typically 8 to 10 people participate.

Jeong Chan-hae (59), the residents' autonomous committee chairman who has participated in quarantine activities without missing a single session, said, "As we consistently conduct quarantine and disinfection, residents seem to feel reassured," and added, "Now when we go out for activities, we receive requests from here and there to conduct disinfection."

He further stated, "The Yulcheon-dong Autonomous Quarantine Unit will continue its activities until COVID-19 is eradicated."

In addition to the Yulcheon-dong Autonomous Quarantine Unit, Suwon has 'civilian autonomous participation quarantine units' in 44 administrative divisions actively operating.

The Suwon City Quarantine Support Team, which has been operating since February 26, is composed of 50 teams across the city, districts, and administrative divisions.

Staff from quarantine-related departments and members of civilian organizations participate in quarantine activities, with members of residents' autonomous committees and heads of organizations working in each division's civilian autonomous participation quarantine units.

As of the 19th, the civilian autonomous participation quarantine units have disinfected and sterilized 30,250 locations including multi-use facilities, vulnerable areas, welfare facilities, and public facilities.

As autonomous quarantine units continuously disinfect various areas throughout the neighborhood, residents have also become more accustomed to quarantine practices.

Starting March 11, the city designated every Wednesday as 'Intensive Quarantine Day,' conducting quarantine activities simultaneously across four districts.

On Intensive Quarantine Days, the offices of Jangan, Gwonseon, Paldal, and Yeongtong districts, along with all 44 administrative divisions, participate in disinfecting vulnerable areas.

A city official stated, "Consistently conducted quarantine efforts are playing a major role in reducing citizens' anxiety," and added, "Until COVID-19 is eradicated, we will continue quarantine activities through public-private cooperation to create a city safe from infectious diseases."