Prime Minister Jeong: "Free COVID-19 Testing at All Public Health Centers Nationwide"

COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Meeting

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun is speaking while presiding over the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on COVID-19 response at the Disaster and Safety Situation Room of Jeonbuk Provincial Office in Jeonju on the morning of the 7th. On the left is Song Ha-jin, Governor of Jeonbuk Province. 2021.4.7 Photo by Yonhap News

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Son Seon-hee] Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun announced on the 7th, "From now on, free testing will be expanded so that anyone can receive diagnostic tests free of charge at all public health centers nationwide, regardless of social distancing levels or symptoms."

On the morning of the same day, Prime Minister Chung presided over the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting at the Jeonbuk Provincial Office and said, "We will further expand diagnostic testing to quickly find hidden confirmed cases in the community." Previously, free COVID-19 testing was available depending on the social distancing level or presence of symptoms, but from now on, everyone will be able to get tested for free regardless of these factors.

Prime Minister Chung urged, "It is true that even medical staff find it difficult to clearly distinguish COVID-19 symptoms from common cold symptoms," adding, "If you have any doubts, please visit the nearest public health center and be sure to get tested."

He expressed concern, saying, "The flames of COVID-19 are not easily being extinguished and are spreading even more widely," and added, "While cluster infections had been mainly occurring in the metropolitan area, since last week, they have been occurring simultaneously across the country." He continued, "The current social distancing measures will end this weekend," and "We will closely monitor the situation day by day and carefully review quarantine measures for the following week."

He emphasized, "If we fail to curb the momentum of COVID-19 here and the fourth wave becomes a reality, disruptions to the ongoing vaccination process will be inevitable," and added, "The government will mobilize all means to make every effort to prevent the fourth wave."

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