Goheung-gun, Non-Disclosure of Personal Information for Foreigners with Unauthorized Stay Increases COVID-19 Testing Participation Rate

249 Foreign Workers Tested at Group Residential Facilities

[Goheung=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Chunsu] Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do, is receiving great responses by conducting on-site COVID-19 testing for foreign workers residing in the area.

According to Goheung-gun on the 21st, temporary screening clinics were set up in Pungyang-myeon and Donggang-myeon over two days on the 18th and 19th, where on-site COVID-19 tests were conducted for 249 foreign workers, all of whom tested negative.

The test subjects were group facilities employing 10 or more foreign workers, mostly workers at agricultural and marine product processing plants such as seaweed and yuzu. Foreigners from small group facilities who had not applied for testing in advance and undocumented foreign workers also received tests together.

Until now, the county has encouraged foreign employment companies to undergo COVID-19 testing and promoted testing by installing banners in areas frequently visited by foreigners.

However, both employers and workers were passive due to the inconvenience of having to travel far to screening clinics and get tested during working hours. This time, by visiting locations close to workplaces and conducting on-site testing, participation rates appear to have been high.

A county official stated, “Undocumented (illegal) foreign workers can also safely receive tests at the county health center at any time under the principle of confidentiality,” and urged, “Please strictly adhere to hygiene management and quarantine rules to prevent becoming a source of COVID-19 infection.”

Meanwhile, the number of registered foreigners in Goheung-gun was 1,012 as of September 2020.

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