Mayor Kwak Sang-wook of Osan Directs Full Preparations for Lunar New Year Holiday Emergency Response

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Mayor Kwak Sang-wook of Osan has designated February 11-14, the Lunar New Year holiday period, as a special preparedness period and on the 8th instructed the city to establish and operate an emergency medical response situation room within the health center to prepare for emergency situations.

Mayor Kwak stated, "We will maintain an emergency medical care system and infectious disease prevention system that allows residents to quickly access medical institutions and pharmacies in preparation for emergency patients and large-scale patient outbreaks during the Lunar New Year holidays," and appealed, "While it may be disappointing for citizens not to meet with family and relatives during the holiday period, we request your cooperation in social distancing."

Accordingly, the city will operate a 24-hour emergency quarantine response system during the holiday period with health center staff on standby to monitor infectious disease outbreaks and maintain a system for rapid response. Additionally, to bridge the gap in medical services and resolve inconveniences in purchasing medicines, the city will designate and operate 111 "medical institutions and pharmacies open during Lunar New Year holidays" on a daily basis in cooperation with the Medical Association and Pharmacists Association.

Those requiring medical services during the holiday period can contact 119 (Emergency Medical Management Center), 129 (Ministry of Health and Welfare Call Center), or 120 (Gyeonggi Province Call Center) to receive guidance on available medical institutions and operating pharmacies.

Information on medical institutions and pharmacies open during the holiday period can also be found through the Emergency Medical Portal E-Gen (www.e-gen.or.kr), the Osan City website (www.osan.go.kr), and the smartphone app "Emergency Medical Information." For more information, contact the Osan City Health Center Emergency Medical Response Situation Room (031-8036-6052).