Typhoon-Force Wind Warning... Four Vehicle-Use Screening Clinics in Seoul Suspended Operations

Mongol Tent and Container Structures Vulnerable to Wind
All Operations Normal from the 20th

Citizens visiting the drive-thru screening clinic set up at Jamsil Sports Complex in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on the 3rd, where confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection are increasing, are being tested inside their vehicles. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 19th that it will suspend operations of four drive-thru screening clinics for one day. This safety measure follows a strong wind advisory issued nationwide from early morning on the 19th until the morning of the 20th, with forecasted gusts reaching up to 90 km/h.

Since early this month, Seoul has been operating four drive-thru screening clinics to detect COVID-19 cases early. These clinics are located at Eunpyeong Hospital (Eunpyeong-gu), Fire Service Academy (Seocho-gu), Jamsil Main Stadium parking lot (Songpa-gu), and Ewha Seoul Hospital (Gangseo-gu).

At these sites, citizens can receive step-by-step COVID-19 diagnostic tests while remaining inside their vehicles using the Drive-Thru method.

Considering that the screening clinics are set up outdoors in Mongolian tents and container structures, which are vulnerable to strong winds, Seoul will suspend operations at all four locations for one day on the 19th.

The city explained that during typhoon-level strong winds, specimen collection may not proceed smoothly, and there is a risk of contamination of specimens due to the strong wind.

In particular, the Jamsil Main Stadium parking lot screening clinic in Songpa-gu has an open structure on all sides, so additional anchoring devices were installed on the ground to prevent the tent from being blown away by strong winds.

Na Baek-ju, the quarantine control officer of the Seoul Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, urged citizens to refrain from going out and to pay special attention to safety in preparation for the strong winds. He added, "After the strong winds pass, all four drive-thru screening clinics will resume normal operations."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.