Self-Test Kit to PCR Test 'Confirmed', 27 Cases Reported in Seoul...Pilot Project 'All Negative'

On the 30th, Lee Gi-il, Director of Health and Medical Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, is examining a COVID-19 self-test kit at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] There has been a case of identifying COVID-19 confirmed patients using self-test kits.

On the 24th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that from the 17th to the 22nd, there were 27 cases where individuals tested positive with self-test kits and were subsequently confirmed positive through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests.

Park Yumi, Seoul's quarantine control officer, explained, "There were cases where families collectively underwent PCR testing after a positive result from a self-test kit, leading to early detection," adding, "We proactively identified confirmed cases by utilizing the high accessibility of self-test kits."

All participants tested negative at the logistics centers and call centers where Seoul is conducting pilot projects. A total of 9,926 people from the Seoul Complex Logistics Center and 3,786 call center workers participated in the pilot projects.

Seoul plans to continue the pilot projects until the 18th of next month to prevent cluster infections in logistics centers and call centers and will consider expanding the program.

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