President Moon: "Expanding Night and Holiday Screening Clinics in the Capital Area... Utilizing Rapid Antigen Tests" (Comprehensive)

Strengthening On-Site Epidemiological Investigation Capacity for COVID-19 in the Seoul Metropolitan Area... Deploying Available Personnel Including Public Officials, Military, and Police

[Asia Economy Reporters Ryu Jeong-min and Son Seon-hee] On the 7th, President Moon Jae-in instructed the expansion of night and holiday screening clinics in the metropolitan area in relation to the expanded implementation of social distancing measures for the 'Novel Coronavirus Infection (COVID-18)'. He also encouraged COVID-19 testing using rapid antigen tests.

Jung Man-ho, Senior Secretary for Public Communication at the Blue House, visited the press center on the 7th and conveyed President Moon Jae-in's directive, stating, "Recently, COVID-19 infections have been rapidly spreading mainly in the metropolitan area. To curb the spread of COVID-19, the speed of epidemiological investigations must be increased."

President Moon instructed, "Deploy the maximum available personnel to strengthen on-site epidemiological investigation capabilities in the metropolitan area," and added, "Prepare to deploy available personnel such as public officials, military, and police to support on-site epidemiological investigations starting this week."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Moon said, "Expand night and holiday operations of screening clinics significantly so that office workers and young people in the metropolitan area can receive tests conveniently and quickly, and establish and operate large-scale drive-through testing sites," and added, "Actively promote the use of rapid antigen tests, which have recently improved in accuracy and provide immediate results."

Senior Secretary Jung conveyed, "There was also a request to the public. Testing is already allowed at screening clinics even if there are no symptoms, so anyone who suspects even a slight infection is strongly urged to visit a screening clinic for testing."

Meanwhile, a Blue House official stated, "Spokesperson Kang Min-seok has entered self-quarantine due to a COVID-19 confirmation of an assistant teacher at an educational facility attended by an acquaintance."

The Blue House official explained, "We learned the fact last night, but (Spokesperson Kang) is not a close contact. Nevertheless, as a precautionary measure, he voluntarily underwent testing at his own expense and has started remote work from home," adding, "The test results are expected to come out late today. He is currently working remotely from home."

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