49 COVID-19 Cases Found at Temporary Screening Clinics in the Seoul Metropolitan Area... 68 Cases Accumulated Over Two Days (Update)

Diagnostic tests completed 37,772 cases over three days

On the 17th, as the third wave of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) continued, citizens lined up to get tested at the temporary screening clinic near Sogang University Station in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporters Kwangho Lee and Heungsun Kim] Temporary screening clinics for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) set up in the Seoul metropolitan area identified 68 confirmed cases over two days.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 17th, a total of 19,169 anonymous tests were conducted from the morning until 6 p.m. the previous day at temporary screening clinics in Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon within the metropolitan area. The cumulative number of tests increased to 37,772. The number of confirmed cases identified through the temporary screening clinics the previous day was 49, with 38 in Seoul, 8 in Gyeonggi, and 3 in Incheon.

Confirmed cases from the temporary screening clinics are reflected in the figures announced the following day based on the previous day's tests. The 49 cases include those confirmed on the 16th among 13,629 people tested on the 15th. On the first day of operation of the temporary screening clinics, the 14th, 4,973 diagnostic tests were conducted, identifying 19 confirmed cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases from these clinics to 68 so far.

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun explained at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting held at the Government Seoul Office on the same day, "It has been three days since we set up temporary screening clinics in major areas of the metropolitan area to find hidden infections," adding, "Despite the severe cold weather, thanks to the dedication of medical staff and the participation of many citizens, more than 37,000 people have been tested so far, and 68 COVID-19 confirmed cases were identified in just two days."

He continued, "I believe these numbers are sufficient to dispel doubts about the effectiveness of this first-time random proactive testing," and added, "If these individuals had not willingly participated in the proactive testing, the coronavirus would still be quietly spreading somewhere to someone."

On the previous day alone, the most tests conducted were 18,662 cases of 'nasopharyngeal swab polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests' (Seoul 10,968; Gyeonggi 6,685; Incheon 1,012). Saliva-based 'saliva specimen PCR' tests numbered 101 (Seoul 68; Gyeonggi 33), and 'rapid antigen tests,' which can yield results within 30 minutes, totaled 399 (Seoul 148; Gyeonggi 248; Incheon 3). When a rapid antigen test is positive, a secondary nasopharyngeal swab PCR test is conducted; a total of 7 people underwent this secondary test, with 4 in Seoul and 3 in Gyeonggi.

The government decided to sequentially establish about 150 temporary screening clinics in the metropolitan area starting from the 14th to detect asymptomatic infections early and prevent the spread of the third wave, conducting intensive testing for three weeks until January 3 next year. As of 6 p.m. the previous day, a total of 109 temporary screening clinics were open, including 44 in Seoul, 59 in Gyeonggi, and 6 in Incheon. Starting with 30 clinics on the first day, 43 were added on the 15th, and 36 more were added the previous day. Anyone can receive free anonymous testing regardless of suspected symptoms or epidemiological links to confirmed cases if they wish.

Prime Minister Chung urged, "We ask all metropolitan area citizens to actively participate in testing," and requested, "The quarantine authorities and local governments should do their utmost to quickly establish the planned temporary screening clinics to preemptively break the chain of COVID-19 transmission."

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