"Clinics Seem Overcrowded"... Testing Surges as Confirmed Cases Flood In

Rising Confirmed Cases Lead to Surge in Test Demand
Waiting Lines Stretch from Clinic Entrances to Sidewalks
Some Clinics Close Early for Registration
"Waiting 3 Hours for Tests," Citizens Complain of Inconvenience

On the morning of the 8th, the line of citizens waiting at the screening clinic of Songpa Health Center in Songpa-gu, Seoul, extended all the way to the underpass. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] #A, a 30-year-old office worker living in Seoul, recently heard that a colleague tested positive for COVID-19 and headed to a screening clinic to get tested himself. Arriving early in the morning, A was surprised to see a long line already stretching in front of the entrance. He said, "I purposely came in the morning because I heard the clinics are very busy these days, but it already looks overcrowded," adding, "It really makes me realize the seriousness of the COVID crisis."

As the daily number of COVID-19 confirmed cases approaches 6,000 to 7,000, the demand for diagnostic testing and epidemiological investigations has surged proportionally. Long queues form daily in front of screening clinics, and some clinics have even closed early due to the overwhelming demand.

The problem is that as the COVID-19 infection situation worsens, the demand for testing continues to increase. This is expected to exacerbate the difficulties faced not only by citizens waiting outside clinics but also by medical staff.

◆Surge in PCR Test Demand... Increasing Early Closures of Clinics

The overcrowding in front of screening clinics is not a new issue. Recently, photos showing lines extending beyond clinic entrances onto main streets have been shared on social media and online communities, drawing public attention.

Meanwhile, more clinics are closing their registration early. For example, on the 8th, a screening clinic near Mapo District Office in Seoul closed registration just 20 minutes after opening at 3 p.m. Medical staff had to direct waiting individuals to other clinics that day.

Due to a COVID-19 cluster outbreak, in-person services and the operation of the screening clinic have been suspended since the 11th at the Bundang-gu Public Health Center screening clinic in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do. On the 12th, a notice of temporary suspension of testing services was posted. / Photo by Yonhap News

Recently, the number of COVID-19 cases has increased, and with the strengthening of the vaccine pass system (proof of vaccination or negative test), the demand for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests has surged.

However, the scale of screening clinics has not significantly changed. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, as of this month, there are about 630 screening clinics nationwide and 170 temporary screening sites, totaling around 800 locations?similar to the approximately 791 sites at the beginning of this year.

As a result, some clinics face demand far exceeding their capacity, leading to unusually large crowds or early closure of testing services.

◆"Waiting 1 to 3 Hours for Tests" Citizens Complain of Inconvenience

Citizens are expressing discomfort over the increasingly long wait times at screening clinics. On the official Seoul Metropolitan Government website's 'Citizen Proposals' board, many petitions request an increase in the number of clinics.

One citizen said, "The congestion is beyond words. My mother, who is in her 70s, waited 2 hours for a test, and a friend told me yesterday that a family of four waited 2 hours and 30 minutes," adding, "Waiting 1 to 3 hours for a COVID test raises concerns about potential cluster infections during that time."

Many posts from citizens expressing complaints related to COVID-19 diagnostic testing were posted on the official Seoul Metropolitan Government website bulletin board. / Photo by Seoul Metropolitan Government website capture

Another citizen expressed frustration, saying, "If you are going to implement the vaccine pass, shouldn't you increase the number of screening clinics in advance? Are you not working on time?"

The problem is that the domestic COVID-19 infection situation is expected to worsen further.

According to the 'short-term forecast results' submitted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency to the office of National Assembly member Seo Jeongsook of the People Power Party on the 9th, health authorities anticipate daily new cases to reach 8,000 to 9,000 by the end of this month and 8,000 to 11,000 by the end of January next year.

The National Institute for Mathematical Sciences predicts an even more severe scale of new cases. If the current epidemic situation (reproduction number 1.28) continues, the institute expects 8,729 new cases on the 22nd and a surge to 12,158 cases by the 31st.

As confirmed cases increase, the number of close contacts could more than double. Considering the increased demand due to the vaccine pass system, there are concerns that domestic PCR testing capacity may not keep up with the number of testees.

The issue of overwork among medical personnel working at clinics may also resurface. Medical staff on the front lines of quarantine are already at their limits due to heavy workloads and stress.

On the 28th of last month, medical staff were conducting COVID-19 testing at the screening clinic of Songpa-gu Public Health Center in Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News

In March, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions' Health and Medical Workers' Union conducted a survey of about 43,000 members. Among respondents, 40.7% reported experiencing depression related to COVID-19. Additionally, more than half (50.5%) of workers at COVID-19 dedicated hospitals said their working conditions had worsened.

In this context, the COVID-19 Joint Countermeasures Committee, composed of the Korean Society for Preventive Medicine and the Korean Society of Epidemiology, issued a statement at the end of August warning, "We have relied on the dedication and sacrifice of healthcare workers without expanding personnel and resources despite the prolonged and large-scale COVID-19 situation," adding, "We are now approaching a critical breaking point."

The Health and Medical Workers' Union pushed for a general strike demanding improved working conditions and additional staffing but reached a dramatic agreement with the government in the early hours of September 2, leading to the strike's withdrawal.

◆Seoul and Other Local Governments Mobilize Emergency Measures Including Temporary Testing Sites

Given the situation, local governments responsible for operating clinics, such as Seoul and Incheon, are focusing all efforts on emergency measures, including installing additional temporary testing sites.

Seoul announced on the 2nd in its 'COVID-19 Emergency Measures' plan to maximize testing capacity. This includes operating 'Seoul COVID-19 Testing Centers' directly managed by the city. These centers, run in cooperation with specialized private companies, allow any citizen to visit and receive COVID-19 specimen testing immediately.

Four such testing centers will be established, one in each of Seoul's four regions (Northeast, Southeast, Northwest, Southwest), operating daily from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., including weekends.

These COVID-19 testing centers operate separately from existing Seoul city medical facilities (screening clinics, temporary screening sites, mobile screening clinics). Therefore, while expanding overall testing capacity, they are expected to reduce the burden on public health center medical staff and inconvenience to citizens.

Regarding this, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said at a briefing, "In the current quarantine crisis, we will implement proactive medical quarantine measures so that citizens can safely receive COVID-19 tests and vaccinations," emphasizing, "We will do our best to detect emergency situations and abnormalities promptly and ensure safe treatment and recovery of daily life within a systematic medical support system."

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