Rapid Surge in COVID-19 Cases in the Seoul Metropolitan Area... Government Provides 1.8 Billion KRW Special Tax Support for Temporary Screening Centers Installation

26 Locations in Seoul, 3 in Incheon, 1 in Gyeonggi Added... Currently Operating 97 Sites

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on the 12th that it will urgently provide 1.8 billion KRW in special disaster and safety grant funds to rapidly identify hidden infections in the community by adding temporary screening clinics in the Seoul metropolitan area due to the recent surge in confirmed cases.

This support follows the presidential directive given at the Seoul metropolitan area quarantine reinforcement meeting on the 7th, which called for the expansion of diagnostic testing by adding more temporary screening clinics and increasing testing to break the chain of infection spread.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety expects that the support for installation and operation costs of 30 newly established temporary screening clinics in the Seoul metropolitan area (26 in Seoul, 3 in Incheon, and 1 in Gyeonggi) for proactive diagnostic testing will contribute to early detection of confirmed cases. Currently, there are a total of 97 operating temporary screening clinics: 26 in Seoul, 5 in Incheon, and 66 in Gyeonggi.

Meanwhile, the Ministry also provided special grant funds of 6.2 billion KRW and 1.4 billion KRW in January and March, respectively, during the third wave, which were used for proactive testing and mass testing of foreign workers through the operation of temporary screening clinics.

Minister Jeon Hae-cheol emphasized, “Proactive quarantine response is very important amid the rapid increase of confirmed cases in the Seoul metropolitan area,” and urged, “Residents in the metropolitan area should visit the nearest temporary screening clinic and participate in diagnostic testing even if they have no symptoms.”