‘What If I’m Infected Too?’ Long Lines in the Rain at Gwangju Temporary Screening Center

Gwangju City Hall Outdoor Plaza Anonymous Clinic Opens... Free Testing Even Without Symptoms

Civilians Line Up Maintaining 1.5m Distance for 'Nasopharyngeal Swab' Testing

Citizens are lining up to receive COVID-19 tests at the anonymous free screening clinic installed in the outdoor plaza of Gwangju Metropolitan City Hall.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Gwangju Metropolitan City began operating free temporary COVID-19 screening centers from the 27th. The policy aims to find hidden confirmed cases and block transmission.

Around 1 p.m., citizens wearing masks were lined up in long queues at the Gwangju City Hall Plaza (Outdoor Music Hall).

The citizens waited in a 'ㄷ'-shaped line, maintaining a distance of about 1.5 meters.

At this temporary screening center, anyone can get tested for free regardless of symptoms or contact with confirmed cases. The goal is to detect hidden asymptomatic infections.

Although it rained in Gwangju that day, citizens calmly waited for their turn wearing thick padding and holding umbrellas.

While citizens waited in line, Gwangju city officials frequently walked around urging social distancing.

Most came voluntarily and were calm, but Kim (19), who was led by his father’s hand, sulked saying, “I’m fine even if I don’t get tested.”

Kim’s father, Kim (52), said, “Even without contact with confirmed cases or symptoms, since testing is free, I came with my family for a mid-check,” adding, “My son seems scared because the swab is inserted deep into the nose.”

A citizen is undergoing a COVID-19 test at an anonymous free screening clinic installed in the outdoor plaza of Gwangju Metropolitan City Hall.

At Gwangju’s temporary free screening centers, only the ‘nasopharyngeal swab PCR’ test is conducted. There are three main COVID-19 testing methods: ‘nasopharyngeal swab PCR,’ ‘saliva test,’ and ‘rapid antigen test,’ but the nasopharyngeal swab PCR, which collects samples by inserting a swab into the nose, has the highest accuracy.

The rain continued, but citizens kept coming to the site.

Before testing, the questionnaire minimized the required information such as name, age, and contact details, but if anonymity was preferred, only contact information was required for testing.

A woman who came out after testing said, “While waiting in line, seeing the swab going into the nose of the person in front of me made me think about leaving, but after doing it, I think it was the right choice,” adding, “I hope other citizens also get tested thinking of it as a checkup for their body.”

Medical staff and officials also reminded people to minimize their movements as much as possible until the test results are notified.

A Gwangju city official said, “Test results will be notified via text message the next day,” and added, “Citizens who get tested at the free anonymous screening centers are not forced to self-isolate, but we ask that they self-isolate as much as possible until the results come out.”

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