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| Seoul Global Center's branch in Yeoungdeungpo District offers coronavirus-related consultations in eight languages. /Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government |
By Kim Se-jeong
The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Tuesday it is providing information and consultations in 12 languages to foreign residents of the capital regarding the coronavirus outbreak.
At the Seoul Global Center's branch in the Yeoungdeungpo district, the service is available in Chinese, English, Vietnamese, Mongolian, Filipino, Urdu (Pakistan), Nepalese and Uzbek. The phone number is (02) 2229-4900. Those who speak Japanese, Thai, Indonesian and Arabic, can call the Seoul Global Center headquarters at (02) 2075-4180 for help. Each office has staff who speak each language.
Interpreters from the center are available to accompany clients to medical centers.
"Seoul has almost 450,000 foreign residents. We would like to give (them) enough information to respond to the new coronavirus," according to the city's statement.
Local global village centers are also able to help source interpreters for residents whose languages are not amongst the current 12.
The city also said that illegal residents can receive consultation and treatment without fear of deportation. According to immigration law, public health service providers are not obliged to report illegal residents to the authorities.
Treatment for the new coronavirus is free for all and if confirmed, patients, depending on their financial situation, are eligible for support during their quarantine period in hospital.
As of Monday, 28 people have been confirmed with the new coronavirus locally.
People with symptoms can visit local clinics and hospitals to be tested for the virus.
The medical authorities are advising people to avoid enclosed spaces where many people gather, to wear masks and to wash their hands thoroughly and regularly.
