Operation of 14 Temporary Screening Clinics in Foreign-Dense Areas as 'Quarantine Blind Spots'

Citizens are getting tested at the temporary COVID-19 screening site set up at Seoul Station Plaza on the 21st. The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight on the same day, the number of new domestic COVID-19 cases increased by 416, bringing the total to 86,992. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Sun-mi] Fourteen temporary COVID-19 screening clinics will begin operation today in areas densely populated by foreign workers.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) on the 21st, from today, 14 temporary screening clinics will be operated in regions with a high concentration of foreign workers, including Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi, and Chungnam. As cluster infections have continued to occur recently in areas densely populated by foreign workers, the government is strengthening quarantine management in these foreign worker-dense areas, which have been identified as 'blind spots' in quarantine.

The tests are free of charge. However, similar to the temporary screening clinics in the metropolitan area that have now switched to real-name testing, foreign workers will also undergo real-name testing. Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Accident Response Headquarters, emphasized, "Testing is available regardless of illegal residency status," and added, "Information provided during testing will not be used for crackdowns, deportations, or penalties related to illegal residency."

Meanwhile, the government plans to monitor patient trends this week and consider whether to adjust the current 'social distancing' levels (Level 2 in the metropolitan area, Level 1.5 in non-metropolitan areas).

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