Jeonnam Province Expands COVID-19 Testing for Public Transportation Workers and Others

[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam Province is expanding the scope of preemptive testing for more thorough prevention.

On the 7th, the province announced that it will expand COVID-19 diagnostic testing using rapid antigen kits targeting foreigner-dense facilities and industrial complexes, including public transportation workers vulnerable to COVID-19 infection and illegal foreign residents.

They have secured 25,000 rapid antigen test kits from contingency funds and plan to implement the testing through city and county public health centers.

In particular, all 11,000 public transportation workers in the province will be tested, and illegal foreign residents and workers in high-risk industrial complexes will be thoroughly tested on-site without identity verification.

Illegal foreign residents working in industrial complexes and public transportation workers are highly likely to have close contact with many citizens, raising concerns about the spread of cluster infections if infected with COVID-19.

However, despite constant exposure to COVID-19 infection, they have faced difficulties in getting tested due to poor accessibility or shift work schedules.

Recently, in Seoul, there have been numerous cases of bus and taxi drivers testing positive, putting public transportation quarantine on high alert.

Gwak Jungil, Director of the Food and Drug Department of Jeonnam Province, said, “Asymptomatic confirmed cases continue to occur recently,” and urged, “All eligible individuals should participate in testing without exception to protect their health and prevent community spread.”

Meanwhile, Jeonnam Province is conducting preemptive COVID-19 testing focusing on infection-vulnerable facilities such as nursing hospitals and nursing homes to minimize infections, and is also operating mobile screening test buses.

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