Suwon City to Share COVID-19 Response Experience with Local Governments Nationwide

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Suwon City has published the 'Record of Suwon City's COVID-19 Response Over 200 Days: A Basic Local Government Perspective,' comprehensively organizing its response processes by situation to share COVID-19 response experiences with local governments nationwide. This publication serves as a 'COVID-19 Response Manual' for basic local governments.

The book includes all policies and projects pioneered by Suwon City following the COVID-19 outbreak, such as the nation's first temporary residential facility established by a basic local government, the 'Suwon-style Overseas Entry Management System,' 'Response to Small-scale Community Cluster Infections,' 'Joint Infectious Disease Response with Neighboring Cities,' and 'Inclusive Mask Support.'

The city plans to distribute this publication to local governments nationwide to share its COVID-19 response experience accumulated over the past six months with all local governments across the country.

The 'Record of Suwon City's COVID-19 Response Over 200 Days' consists of four chapters: ▲COVID-19 Response of Suwon City as a Basic Local Government ▲Suwon City's Response and Suwon-style Manual ▲Recommendations for the Post-COVID-19 Era ▲The 200-Day Journey Without Rest.

Chapter 1 briefly describes Suwon City's COVID-19 outbreak status and response measures. On January 28, the day after the Ministry of Health and Welfare elevated the infectious disease crisis alert level from 'Caution' to 'Alert,' the city began operating the 'Suwon City Disaster and Safety Control Headquarters' (DSCHO), composed of five teams including the 'Infectious Disease Response Team' and the 'Living Stability Support Team.' The city also established cooperative frameworks with related agencies including fire departments, police departments, and military units.

The city operated the DSCHO flexibly, adding response teams whenever issues requiring systematic and prompt action arose.

When the 'Mask Crisis' occurred, the city established the 'Mask Supply Team' (March 2) to support mask distribution. As cases of confirmed infections among overseas returnees increased, the 'Returnee Support Team' (March 26) was established to thoroughly manage overseas entrants. Currently, the DSCHO operates with 10 teams and 1 task force (Disaster Basic Income Task Force).

Chapter 2 explains Suwon City's COVID-19 response measures in manual form in detail. There are manuals for 15 different situations including 'Response Organization and Operating System,' 'Suwon-style Overseas Entry Management System,' and 'Self-Isolation Monitoring.'

For example, the 'Suwon-style Overseas Entry Management System' includes procedures for transporting overseas entrants and operational manuals for temporary screening facilities.

The operational manual contains all necessary information for operating temporary screening facilities, including resident conduct rules, methods for supporting residents, facility hygiene and quarantine management, waste disposal procedures, and layout diagrams of screening clinics in temporary screening facilities.

Chapter 3 presents 'Recommendations for the Post-COVID-19 Era,' stating: "Although basic local governments have continuously strived and played a leading role even during infectious disease situations, authority limitations felt acutely in the field have become obstacles. To respond more effectively to infectious diseases, authority should be granted to basic local governments, which better understand on-site situations, and the response should be entrusted to them."

Chapter 4, 'The 200-Day Journey Without Rest,' contains photographs documenting Suwon City's COVID-19 response.

The city established a 'Novel Coronavirus Task Force' on January 22 and began responding to COVID-19 in earnest. Mayor Yim Tae-young posted 'Suwon City's Novel Coronavirus Response Report No. 1' on his personal social media, promising to "prioritize citizen safety and implement an 'over-response' to COVID-19."

Through 'rapid response' and 'over-response,' the city suppressed community spread of COVID-19, and its pioneering response became a model for local government COVID-19 prevention efforts.

On February 18, the city became the first among basic local governments nationwide to operate temporary residential facilities for close contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases. On March 26, it became the first in the nation to operate temporary screening facilities where asymptomatic overseas entrants could remain until receiving their COVID-19 diagnostic test results. Suwon City's overseas entry management policy, pioneered nationally, spread throughout the country and played a major role in preventing disease transmission.

There was also an achievement in realizing the 'Grant of Epidemiological Investigation Authority to Basic Local Governments,' which Mayor Yim had consistently recommended to the government since the 'MERS Crisis' of 2015. The National Assembly processed the 'Corona Three Bills,' including a 'Partial Amendment to the Infectious Disease Prevention and Management Act,' on February 26.

In the publication's preface, Mayor Yim stated: "I hope the 'Record of 200 Days of COVID-19 Response' provides a small inspiration for basic local governments nationwide to develop better COVID-19 response measures. I believe that through all our combined efforts, we can overcome COVID-19."

Meanwhile, as of the 10th, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Suwon City is 135 (21 cases at quarantine facilities). Of the 135 cases, 127 have been discharged. The number of confirmed cases per 100,000 city residents is 9.5, approximately one-third of the national average (28.2). The positive rate compared to COVID-19 diagnostic tests is 0.33%, approximately 37% of the national average (0.91%).