Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok Proposes Mandatory Testing Before Ending Self-Quarantine

[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam Province emphasized the importance of 'pre-release diagnostic testing' for contacts and other self-quarantined individuals as a proactive measure to block the spread of COVID-19 community infections.

According to Jeonnam Province on the 9th, Governor Kim Young-rok proposed at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting to mandate diagnostic testing for all self-quarantined individuals before release from quarantine and requested the Ministry of Health and Welfare to cover the cost of diagnostic tests.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare is reportedly reviewing this proposal positively.

According to COVID-19 response guidelines, self-quarantined individuals, excluding mandatory diagnostic test subjects such as healthcare workers, students, and faculty, can be released from quarantine without testing if no symptoms occur during the 14-day quarantine period.

However, since April 6, Jeonnam Province has conducted pre-release diagnostic testing for all self-quarantined individuals regardless of symptoms.

So far, 14,561 pre-release tests have been conducted, with 17 positive cases confirmed, accounting for 8.7% (17 cases) of Jeonnam's total 196 confirmed cases.

In fact, on the 7th, a confirmed case from Gangnam-gu, Seoul, was released from quarantine without additional testing while asymptomatic, but later visited the Gangnam-gu Public Health Center due to personal concerns, requested a test, and was confirmed positive while meeting family members in Yeosu.

The Gangnam-gu confirmed case was asymptomatic at the time of quarantine release and was allowed to be released without additional testing according to guidelines.

The province isolated the Gangnam-gu confirmed case at Suncheon Medical Center and completed disinfection of the visited locations. Four contacts tested negative.

Kang Young-gu, Director of Health and Welfare at Jeonnam Province, stated, “We will maintain a response system so that residents can quickly receive COVID-19 diagnostic tests,” and urged, “Please refrain from events and gatherings and always wear masks indoors and outdoors until COVID-19 subsides.”

Meanwhile, Jeonnam Province assigns dedicated public officials on a 1:1 basis to manage contacts and other self-quarantined individuals, conducting symptom checks and monitoring twice daily.

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