Gyeonggi Province Strengthens Entry Criteria for Senior Centers from "1st Vaccine Shot" to "Vaccination Completion"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province has requested all 31 cities and counties in the province to strengthen entry criteria for senior centers from "first vaccine dose" to "completed vaccination" to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infections.

The current Ministry of Health and Welfare guideline (Senior Leisure and Welfare Facility Response Guideline) provides an exception allowing those with a first vaccine dose to participate in senior center programs, contingent on strict quarantine measures.

Accordingly, approximately 6,900 (70%) of the province's approximately 9,800 senior centers are currently operating.

However, in the past two weeks, confirmed infection cases among senior center users have been identified in Gwangju City (3 cases), Yangju City (2 cases), and Siheung City (1 case).

Both confirmed cases in Yangju City were individuals who had received only their first vaccine dose.

Senior centers without on-site facility managers rely on member self-management, which heightens exposure to infection risks.

The province decided to strengthen entry criteria for all approximately 9,800 senior centers based on internal expert advice that those who have not completed their second dose and waited 14 days thereafter may be vulnerable to the Delta variant.

If cities and counties accept the province's request to strengthen senior center entry criteria and implement it, only those with completed vaccination will be able to enter senior centers in those jurisdictions.
The province requested that cities and counties adjust the scope and targets of services according to local conditions.

Moon Jung-hee, Director of the Welfare Bureau of Gyeonggi Province, said, "While some inconvenience is expected for seniors due to the strengthened entry criteria for senior centers, we ask for active cooperation in light of the seriousness of the current situation."