Incheon City to Suspend Temporary Screening Clinics Operation Starting Next Month

As the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases continues to decline, the temporary screening clinic at Seoul Station is quiet. 2022.5.23 / Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Incheon City announced on the 25th that it will suspend the operation of temporary screening clinics starting from the 1st of next month due to the decline in COVID-19 confirmed cases.

The currently operating temporary screening clinics are located at six places: Juan Station (Michuhol-gu), in front of Songdo Michuhol Tower (Yeonsu-gu), Incheon City Hall Plaza (Namdong-gu), Bupyeong Station (Bupyeong-gu), Jakjeon Station (Gyeyang-gu), and Geomam Station (Seo-gu).

The city began operating temporary screening clinics in December 2020 to facilitate COVID-19 testing and expanded up to 17 locations, operating year-round 365 days. However, since April, due to the decrease in confirmed cases and the number of tests, the number has been reduced to six locations currently.

In March of this year, when the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases surged, up to about 15,500 people per day underwent PCR testing, and the cumulative number of tests at temporary screening clinics reached 2.8 million, but recently, the daily number of tests has dropped to around 300.

It is estimated that about 2.8 million citizens (approximately 2.44 million PCR tests and 360,000 rapid antigen tests) have been tested at temporary screening clinics so far.

Even after the suspension of temporary screening clinics, 11 screening clinics at district and county health centers will continue to provide PCR testing services as before.

Health center screening clinics operate from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on weekends and holidays.