Starting Today, Incheon Airport 'Walking Through' Clinic to Test Up to 2,000 People Daily (Update)

On the 19th, when the government expanded the special entry procedures to all incoming travelers worldwide to prevent the influx of COVID-19, passengers arriving on a passenger flight from Frankfurt, Germany, underwent the special entry procedures at Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The government will operate an open screening clinic (Open Walking Thru) in the outdoor area of Incheon Airport starting from the 26th for rapid testing of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

Yoon Tae-ho, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters' quarantine team, stated at a regular briefing held at the Government Complex Sejong on the morning of the same day, "To enable rapid diagnostic testing at the quarantine stage, open screening clinics will be operated in five locations at Incheon Airport."

The open screening clinics, with eight units installed each at Incheon Airport Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, utilize the airport's characteristic of strong winds. It is explained that in the open space, contaminants are dispersed, allowing specimen collection to be conducted quickly and safely without the need for disinfection.

The open screening clinics will operate targeting foreigners arriving from Europe and short-term foreign visitors from the United States, with a maximum capacity of 2,000 tests per day. Yoon said, "We expect to collect specimens from 12 people per hour at the open screening clinics." General screening clinics can collect specimens from 2 to 3 people per hour, and drive-thru clinics can collect from 6 to 8 people per hour.