"Blocking COVID-19 Tests Until General Election" Health Authorities Deny as "Fake News"

Photo by SNS capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Shinwon Yoon] Regarding the recent spread on social networking services (SNS) and online communities of claims that "the government is preventing COVID-19 testing until before the general election," the quarantine authorities have dismissed this as "fake news."

On the 30th, according to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, fake news is circulating under the name of some doctors stating that "the government is preventing doctors from conducting COVID-19 tests."

The content claims that with the revision of the COVID-19 suspected patient guidelines, previously testing was possible if a doctor suspected infection, but now testing is only conducted if pneumonia is visible on CT or X-ray, and since testing otherwise costs 160,000 KRW, most elderly people refuse testing. It also added that this is because the number of infections must not increase before the general election.

However, the Central Disease Control Headquarters strongly denied this as completely untrue. In a press release on the same day, the Central Disease Control Headquarters emphasized, "Since cases without confirmed links to cluster outbreaks continue to occur, diagnostic testing is possible if COVID-19 is suspected based on a doctor's opinion."

According to the "COVID-19 Response Guidelines (7-3 edition)," ▲ those suspected of COVID-19 such as unexplained pneumonia based on a doctor's opinion ▲ those who have visited countries with COVID-19 community transmission, including China (Hong Kong, Macau), and within 14 days have developed fever (37.5℃ or higher) or respiratory symptoms (cough, difficulty breathing, etc.) ▲ those epidemiologically linked to domestic COVID-19 cluster outbreaks and within 14 days have developed fever (37.5℃ or higher) or respiratory symptoms (cough, difficulty breathing, etc.) are considered symptomatic individuals under investigation and can undergo diagnostic testing.