Jeonnam Health and Environment Research Institute Plays Key Role as Public COVID-19 Testing Agency

Selected as the 'Best Institution' for Actively Responding to a Total of 134,000 Inspections

[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam Health and Environment Research Institute announced on the 13th that it has been selected as the 'Best Institution' for its proactive response, having conducted over 130,000 COVID-19 specimen tests.

Since the first domestic COVID-19 case, Jeonnam Health and Environment Research Institute has conducted 134,000 tests as of the 10th, accounting for 10% of the total 1,342,000 tests conducted nationwide by health and environment research institutes. This is the second highest number after Incheon among the 17 cities and provinces nationwide.

The total confirmed cases in the Jeonnam region stand at 610, with an incidence rate of 32.7 per 100,000 people, the lowest nationwide.

This result comes from the province's full-scale emergency response system initiated on January 26 of last year, when the novel coronavirus infection began, based on the principle that 'early diagnosis is the best quarantine.' Testing was conducted to prevent the 'silent transmission' that spreads asymptomatic infections.

An emergency diagnostic testing system was established in the eastern region, which lacked diagnostic testing infrastructure, and four temporary screening clinics were operated. Comprehensive testing was also conducted targeting vulnerable facilities such as nursing homes and facilities for the disabled.

In particular, during the third wave in December last year, the institute recorded 4,726 tests in a single day, which was the monthly test volume of another research institute, and conducted about 1,500 tests daily around the clock without rest.

As a result, tests were processed quickly within four hours from receipt to notification, contributing to blocking secondary infections.

Thanks to this swift response, Jeonnam Health and Environment Research Institute played a significant role in preventing the regional spread of COVID-19 and was recognized for its contribution by being selected as the 'Best Institution for Infectious Disease Laboratory Testing in 2020,' receiving a commendation from the Minister of Health and Welfare.

Lim Hyuncheol, Head of the Infectious Disease Investigation Division 1, said, “We will continue to strengthen testing capabilities until residents are free from COVID-19,” and added, “We hope residents will strictly observe social distancing and personal quarantine rules so that COVID-19 can end soon.”

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