Temporary Testing Sites in the Seoul Metropolitan Area That Detected 1,140 Early Cases... "Discussion Underway to Extend Operation Period"

As the spread of the third wave of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in South Korea shows no signs of slowing down, citizens are lining up in long queues at a temporary screening clinic set up at Seoul Station Plaza on the 23rd, waiting for their turn. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] The quarantine authorities, recognizing the effectiveness of the temporary screening centers operating in the Seoul metropolitan area to early detect 'hidden infected individuals' of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Korea, have begun considering extending the operation period. Currently, the temporary screening centers installed at 150 locations in the metropolitan area are scheduled to operate until the 3rd of next month.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) on the 26th, a total of 33,983 tests were conducted at the metropolitan temporary screening centers on the previous day, Christmas, with 115 people testing positive. This accounts for 10.4% of the 1,104 locally transmitted confirmed cases out of the total 1,132 new confirmed cases excluding overseas inflow on that day.

Since the opening of the metropolitan temporary screening centers on the 14th, the cumulative number of confirmed cases identified through these centers reached 1,140 as of that day. The positive rate compared to the total 445,591 tests conducted is 0.26%.

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the CDCH, explained at the regular briefing that "contacts of confirmed cases are also partially tested at the temporary screening centers, and diagnostic tests before release from quarantine are also conducted," adding, "It is necessary to separate general local residents and other testees in the future to examine the positivity rate."

She continued, "However, the fact that people with mild symptoms who only received treatment at medical institutions or those exposed to risk factors are being confirmed early is a very positive effect," and said, "We are currently discussing extending the operation period of the temporary screening centers."

Regarding the types of tests conducted in one day, 32,957 cases underwent 'nasopharyngeal swab polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests' using specimens collected from inside the nose, accounting for about 97% of the total. Additionally, 25 cases of 'saliva specimen PCR tests' using saliva and 999 cases of 'rapid antigen tests' that can yield results in as fast as 30 minutes were conducted respectively.

At the metropolitan temporary screening centers, anyone can receive anonymous testing by simply providing their mobile phone number, regardless of symptom presence.