Gyeongbuk Province Conducts 'COVID-19 Testing' for Correctional Facility Staff... 2,250 People at 9 Locations Tested 4 Times Each

On the afternoon of December 27 last year, escort vehicles transporting or about to transport inmates were busy coming and going at the main gate of the Northern Gyeongbuk Second Correctional Institution in Jinbo-myeon, Cheongsong-gun, Gyeongbuk.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongwook Park] Gyeongsangbuk-do announced on the 12th that it will conduct proactive testing for COVID-19 four times per person over the next month for 2,250 correctional facility workers at nine correctional facilities within the province.

This measure was taken considering the recent large-scale group infections among inmates in correctional facilities in the Seoul metropolitan area, raising concerns about transmission originating from correctional facilities, and the fact that correctional facilities are scattered across Cheongsong, Gimcheon, Gyeongju, Sangju, Pohang, and other areas within the province.

Since January last year, Gyeongbuk Province has collected a total of 210,000 samples and requested tests from research institutes and private research organizations. The Health and Environment Research Institute tested 46,000 of these samples, confirming 1,017 positive cases, playing a significant role in blocking the spread of COVID-19 within the province.

The proactive testing for correctional facilities will be conducted in coordination with the respective cities and counties by collecting samples and using the pooled sample genetic testing method called 'Pooling,' which can deliver results within six hours after specimen reception.

Baek Ha-ju, Director of the Gyeongsangbuk-do Health and Environment Research Institute, stated, "This urgent testing is a very urgent and important matter to prevent a large-scale COVID-19 outbreak in the province," adding, "Although the COVID-19 emergency response team is exhausted and under strain from conducting rapid tests 24 hours a day, we will do our best to protect the health and safety of the residents."

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