Seoul Gangseo-gu Adds 2 More Screening Clinics, Capable of Testing Up to 2,000 People Daily

Installation at Gomdallae Cultural Welfare Center Parking Lot and Magok Indoor Badminton Court Parking Lot... Free Testing Available Anonymously Regardless of Symptom Presence or Epidemiological Link

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gangseo-gu, Seoul (Mayor Noh Hyun-song) has added two temporary screening clinics where anyone can receive free COVID-19 testing, starting free testing from the 17th.

In addition to the existing Gangseo-gu Public Health Center and Ewha Seoul Hospital screening clinics, the district urgently installed temporary screening clinics in Hwagok-dong (Gomdallae Cultural Welfare Center parking lot) and Gayang-dong (Magok Indoor Badminton Court parking lot).

This is a special measure in response to the fact that despite the implementation of social distancing level 2.5, confirmed cases have not decreased, and the number of so-called ‘dark’ patients with asymptomatic infections and unclear infection routes is increasing.

At the Gomdallae Cultural Welfare Center parking lot, a walk-through type temporary screening clinic similar to the existing public health center is operated, and at the Magok Indoor Badminton Court parking lot, a drive-through type temporary screening clinic similar to Ewha Seoul Hospital is operated.

At these temporary screening clinics, anyone who wishes to be tested, regardless of symptoms or epidemiological relevance, can receive free testing.

The newly installed temporary screening clinics will operate temporarily until the 3rd of next month.

Operating hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and public holidays. However, they are closed on Sundays.

Testing is conducted anonymously by providing only a mobile phone number to check results, and primarily involves nasopharyngeal swab PCR tests where a swab is inserted into the nose.

Saliva PCR tests or rapid antigen tests are also conducted only when nasopharyngeal swab specimen collection is difficult or rapid testing is absolutely necessary.

Each temporary screening clinic can test about 300 to 350 people per day, so together with the Gangseo-gu Public Health Center screening clinic, it is expected that more than 2,000 people can be tested daily.

To ensure smooth testing, the district will assign 4 medical personnel responsible for specimen collection and medical interviews, and 11 administrative staff responsible for epidemiological investigation, test guidance, and maintaining order at each temporary screening clinic.

Since before the implementation of metropolitan area social distancing level 2.5, the district has been promoting proactive quarantine measures equivalent to level 3 in managing facilities and responses.

Mayor Noh Hyun-song said, “While we are pushing forward proactive quarantine measures at the district level and making every effort to block chains of cluster infections, there are limits to preventing the current widespread spread with only the district’s response and efforts,” and added, “We ask residents to refrain from all gatherings and meetings during the year-end and New Year period, and to strictly follow quarantine rules such as wearing masks, social distancing, and avoiding crowded, close-contact, and enclosed spaces.”

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