Gyeonggi Province Secures 'One-Stop Clinics' to Prepare for COVID-19 Resurgence

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hoon] Gyeonggi Province has decided to continuously secure "One-Stop Clinics" that comprehensively handle COVID-19 testing, treatment, and prescription in preparation for a COVID-19 resurgence, while strengthening field inspections of infection-prone facilities.

According to the province on the 7th, the daily new COVID-19 confirmed cases in Gyeonggi Province dropped below 1,000 in June but increased again, recording 5,174 cases on the 6th.

The province is concerned about a possible COVID-19 resurgence as the "summer vacation season without social distancing" begins.

Accordingly, Gyeonggi Province has established measures to prepare for a COVID-19 resurgence, centered on securing a "One-Stop Clinic System" and strengthening management of infection-prone facilities.

First, the province will continuously add COVID-19 One-Stop Clinics.

COVID-19 One-Stop Clinics refer to facilities where diagnostic testing, in-person and non-face-to-face treatment, and prescription of oral treatment medications can be handled comprehensively.

The province has designated 1,284 out of 2,810 "Respiratory Patient Care Centers" (formerly respiratory care clinics, respiratory care designated medical institutions, and outpatient care centers) within the province as One-Stop Clinics.

To strengthen quarantine management and on-site response for infection-prone facilities, the province established an "Infection-Prone Facility Response Plan" on June 7 and is pursuing "11 projects across 4 sectors."

The four sectors are ▲establishing response systems for vulnerable facilities ▲strengthening prevention and management of cluster infections ▲building rapid response systems ▲strengthening management capacity through specialized training.

The province has also prepared mobilization plans for health and administrative personnel at different crisis stages (3 stages) depending on the resurgence level.

When the Central Epidemic Prevention Headquarters' weekly risk level—evaluated based on the proportion of confirmed cases and deaths among people aged 60 and older—is "very low to moderate," the rapid response system operates at stage 1 (provincial response personnel from the Disease Policy Division, Health Care Division, and Infectious Disease Management Support Unit); when "high," it operates at stage 2 (all provincial response personnel from the Health and Welfare Bureau); and when "very high," it operates at stage 3 (all provincial response personnel from the entire provincial government).

In the long term, the province plans to continuously expand infectious disease medical response infrastructure, including completing the Metropolitan Capital Region Infectious Disease Specialized Hospital planned for Seoul National University Bundang Hospital by 2027.

Ryu Young-cheol, Director of the Gyeonggi Province Health and Welfare Bureau, said, "The immunity acquired through vaccination and infection typically lasts three to six months, and as the immunity of patients infected during the Omicron wave wanes, the summer vacation season following the lifting of quarantine measures coincides with this period, raising concerns about resurgence. We will prepare response systems in preparation for a resurgence and proactively respond by strengthening management of high-risk groups."

Meanwhile, following the occurrence of monkeypox infections in Korea on the 22nd of last month, the province established quarantine response teams at Gyeonggi Province and 48 public health centers.

The province currently maintains a 24-hour joint response system between the province and cities and counties, and has designated Seoul National University Bundang Hospital as a dedicated monkeypox hospital with 2 dedicated beds secured and operated.