Seoul Gangseo-gu, Installation of Container-Type Walk-Through Screening Clinic

A Container Equipped with Both Open and Booth Types Enables Continuous Inspection Without Worrying About Heatwaves, Monsoons, Strong Winds, or Cold Snaps

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Gangseo-gu, Seoul (Mayor Noh Hyun-song) has installed container-type walk-through screening clinics and has begun full-scale operation to prepare for the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and the occurrence of various infectious diseases.

The tent-type screening clinics, which were temporarily operated, had the advantage of quick installation allowing rapid response to infectious disease prevention such as COVID-19. However, at this prolonged stage, a sturdy and safe screening clinic was needed, leading to the installation.

It also resolved the difficulties medical staff faced in coping with external environmental changes such as heatwaves and monsoons, as well as concerns about infection due to direct contact with testees during the testing process.

The district installed two new types of walk-through screening clinics in the parking lot of Gangseo-gu Public Health Center, equipped with open specimen collection booths and booth-type specimen collection booths with negative pressure facilities, and after trial operation, has been operating them regularly since the 14th.

The container-type walk-through screening clinics are fully equipped with necessary equipment such as negative pressure machines, air conditioners, computers, and sound equipment that allows communication between medical staff and patients.

In particular, the walk-through screening clinics use a glove wall system, where medical staff do not have direct contact with testees but extend only the gloved arm part to collect specimens.

Therefore, since direct contact with testees is blocked, medical staff do not need to wear thick Level D protective suits, and as it is a fixed container type, there is no concern about suspension of operation due to external environmental factors such as heatwaves, monsoons, strong winds, or cold waves.

Additionally, asymptomatic pre-screening individuals can quickly receive tests in the open specimen collection booths, while symptomatic screening individuals can safely receive tests in the booth-type specimen collection booths equipped with negative pressure facilities.

The district is currently revising the COVID-19 response manual to prepare for the resurgence of COVID-19 or new viral infectious diseases, and plans to expand the team managing infectious diseases from one to two teams in the second half of the year.

Furthermore, the district is also seriously considering installing a separate ‘Infectious Disease Management Center’ dedicated to infectious diseases in the new district office building plan.

Mayor Noh Hyun-song said, “We have introduced a more efficient walk-through system for the safety of residents and medical staff,” and added, “I would like to once again thank the medical staff and volunteers who are working hard to overcome the COVID-19 crisis, as well as the residents who actively participated in daily quarantine.”

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