Seoul's 25 Districts Operate Health Centers and Screening Clinics During Lunar New Year Holiday... Four Directly Managed Testing Sites Offer Rapid Antigen Tests

PCR Testing Available Until the 2nd of Next Month Even for Non-High-Risk Groups
Rapid Testing Sites Operating at Gwangjin Square, Dongjak Station Parking Park, World Cup Park, and Mokdong Stadium

On the 30th, when the number of new COVID-19 cases reached 17,532, marking the highest record for six consecutive days, citizens visiting the COVID-19 screening clinic at the Jongno-gu Public Health Center in Seoul conducted rapid antigen tests using self-test kits. If the test result is positive, they immediately move to the adjacent PCR testing site for a PCR test. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Seoul City will operate 25 public health centers and permanent/temporary screening clinics during the Lunar New Year holiday. To proactively respond to the spread of Omicron and enable citizens to get tested more quickly, screening clinics at public health centers in all 25 districts will be open during the holiday, and rapid antigen tests using 'self-test kits' will be conducted at four directly managed testing sites.

On the 31st, Seoul City announced that according to the 'Omicron Medical Quarantine Plan,' it will proactively reorganize and operate the COVID-19 diagnostic testing system. To cope with the surge in testing demand, PCR tests will be focused on high-risk groups aged 60 and over, while others will use rapid antigen tests, with PCR tests conducted if the antigen test is positive.

Until February 2, during the Lunar New Year holiday, the period will be designated for 'rapid antigen testing,' and anyone who wishes can receive a PCR test even if they are not in a high-risk group. All Seoul citizens can receive free testing at screening clinics in public health centers of the 25 autonomous districts starting from the 29th, and these will operate throughout the holiday period.

The 'rapid antigen test' at public health center screening clinics allows individuals to collect their own specimens using self-test kits and immediately check the results in the screening clinic's result confirmation area. If a negative certificate for quarantine pass purposes is needed, issuance of the certificate is also possible. Those prioritized for PCR testing can also receive rapid antigen tests if desired; however, those who have been instructed by public health centers to undergo PCR testing, such as close contacts before ending self-quarantine or overseas entrants, must undergo PCR testing.

The 'Seoul City COVID-19 Testing Sites' will also quickly transition the testing system to implement self-test kit testing. Starting from the 29th, four testing sites?Gwangjin Square, Dongjak Station Parking Park, World Cup Park, and Mokdong Stadium?have begun operation, and from February 7, four more sites?Changdong Station Parking Lot, Jamsil Stadium, Doknipmun Square, and Techno Neighborhood Park (Sindorim Station)?will also open consecutively. Directly managed testing sites operate from 1 PM to 9 PM.

Seoul City emphasized that vaccination remains the most effective quarantine measure against the Omicron variant and urged active participation in vaccination during the holiday period. Medical institutions offering vaccinations during the holiday can be confirmed through each district's website.

Park Yumi, Director of the Seoul City Citizen Health Bureau, said, "We will improve the diagnostic testing system and promote the use of self-test kits so that citizens can get tested more quickly," adding, "During the Lunar New Year holiday, rapid antigen tests will be conducted starting from public health center screening clinics and city-operated testing sites to provide faster and more efficient testing."

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