Authorities: "Infection spreading mainly in foreigner communities... Please get tested if you notice any unusual symptoms"

On the 24th, workers are getting tested at a screening clinic set up at an apartment construction site in Gangdong-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] As cluster infections centered on foreign workers have frequently occurred in Chungnam and Jeonbuk, authorities have urged foreign residents in Korea to actively participate in COVID-19 diagnostic testing.

Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, said at the regular briefing of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on the 24th, "Recently, infections have been spreading mainly within foreign communities," and urged foreign workers, "If you feel even slightly unwell, please get tested immediately."

He emphasized, "Regardless of visa status, foreigners can get tested without visa verification," and added, "Measures have already been taken to ensure that information about visa status is not reported to immigration authorities even if testing is done," urging active participation in testing. This was a call for thorough testing as cluster infections related to foreign workers have frequently occurred recently in Chungnam, Jeonbuk, and other areas.

Son said, "The cause of the spread of infections among foreigners is believed to be infections occurring in places where dense labor is performed in enclosed environments, and this infection spreads repeatedly within communities where foreigners gather," and evaluated, "Since foreigner-dense facilities have characteristics of enclosed environments and long hours of concentrated labor, cases of infection spreading mainly in workplaces where many foreign workers gather, as seen last year, are also increasing."

Meanwhile, health authorities assessed that although the current medical situation shows a steady spread?with the number of critically ill patients reaching a record high of 420 as of midnight on this day?there is still sufficient capacity to respond. Son said, "Our medical system is currently responding with about 20-30% capacity available," and added, "There are no issues such as patients not receiving treatment or waiting at home, and we are managing the situation."

He said, "It is currently estimated that the system can handle up to about 2,500 patients without problems, but if more than 2,500 patients continue to occur, various issues may arise within our medical system," and explained, "

We are simultaneously expanding the capacity of the medical system and strengthening quarantine management efforts to prevent the epidemic scale from growing further."