Full-scale Testing of Nursing and Psychiatric Hospitals in the Seoul Metropolitan Area to Begin as Early as Next Week

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The government will begin comprehensive testing for COVID-19 on approximately 160,000 workers and users at nursing hospitals, facilities, and psychiatric hospitals in the Seoul metropolitan area as early as next week.

On the 15th, Son Young-rae, head of the Strategic Planning Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, stated at a briefing held at the Government Complex Sejong, "We plan to conduct comprehensive testing on workers at nursing hospitals, nursing facilities, and mental health facilities in the metropolitan area," adding, "We are urging local governments to start by next week at the latest."

Among the 160,000 people subject to the comprehensive testing, inpatients are excluded. Only 130,000 workers and 30,000 facility users are targeted for testing. Son explained, "The reason for excluding inpatients is that they are tested upon new admission, and including inpatients would make the number too large."

The government believes it is necessary to identify hidden latent infections among workers who commute repeatedly between the community and the facilities. Son said, "If there are latent infections, the purpose is to understand their extent and to block any resulting community infections."

However, he explained that the risk of infection may still remain even after the comprehensive testing. Son stated, "Because workers and users continue to commute between the community and the facilities, it is not completely safe unless periodic repeated testing is conducted."

Amid a recent new cluster infection at Busan's 'Haetteurak Nursing Hospital,' the government is also considering expanding comprehensive testing to related facilities outside the metropolitan area. Son said, "We will evaluate the situation with this testing and decide how to proceed if expanding to other regions, and whether repeated testing is necessary."

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