Where and How to Get Tested for COVID-19 Starting from the 3rd?

On the 30th of last month, when the number of new COVID-19 cases reached 17,532, marking the highest record for six consecutive days, medical staff at the temporary screening clinic at Seoul Station were collecting samples from citizens. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Seoyoung] As the nationwide transition to the 'Omicron response phase' in the quarantine system is set to take place, the COVID-19 diagnostic testing and treatment system is also expected to undergo significant changes.

With the spread of the Omicron variant accelerating, the government announced that it will switch the quarantine and medical system starting from the 3rd. Accordingly, COVID-19 tests will be available not only at screening clinics set up in public health centers and hospitals, and temporary screening testing sites in public squares, but also at local clinics. Unlike before, tests can now be conducted at neighborhood clinics, but since not all local clinics are eligible, it is important to check whether the medical institution is designated by the government before visiting. Most hospitals designated as respiratory clinics will participate, and the list can be checked from the 2nd on the Ministry of Health and Welfare website, the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service website, and portal site maps such as Naver and Kakao.

Furthermore, PCR testing at screening clinics will be targeted at people aged 60 and over, close contacts, workers in vulnerable facilities, and those who tested positive on rapid antigen tests. If symptoms are suspected, a PCR test can be conducted at a screening clinic upon a doctor's recommendation. Other simple suspects can visit designated hospitals or respiratory clinics to take a rapid antigen test, and if the result is positive, a PCR test can be performed. Screening clinic tests are free of charge, but a consultation fee of 5,000 KRW is required when taking rapid antigen tests at respiratory clinics or other designated hospitals.

For those needing a negative certificate for the quarantine pass (vaccination proof/negative confirmation system), the validity period of a PCR test negative certificate is 48 hours, while that of a rapid antigen test negative certificate is 24 hours. If tested at home using a self-test kit, even if the result is negative, it cannot be used as a quarantine pass; however, if positive, it is possible to bring the kit to a screening clinic for a PCR test. Note that free distribution of self-test kits will be prohibited after the 3rd, so caution is advised.

As the government postponed the transition to Phase 2 of the gradual return to normal life (With Corona) and announced special quarantine measures for four weeks due to the worsening COVID-19 situation, a notice regarding food consumption was posted at a movie theater in Seoul on the 30th of last month. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

If you test positive for COVID-19, extra caution is required. Asymptomatic or mild cases who have completed vaccination will receive home treatment for 7 days, while unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated individuals will receive home treatment for 10 days. The criteria for fully vaccinated individuals refer to those within 14 to 90 days after the second dose (or first dose for the Janssen vaccine), or those who have received a third dose (booster shot). During home treatment, high-risk groups aged 60 and over will receive non-face-to-face medical consultations twice daily by phone from management medical institutions, while other low-risk groups will receive non-face-to-face consultations once daily at the respiratory clinics or local clinics where they were tested.

Additionally, the oral antiviral Paxlovid is prescribed based on a doctor's consultation. It can be prescribed to home treatment patients, those admitted to life treatment centers, and patients in nursing hospitals or infectious disease specialist clinics, but the prescription is limited to those aged 60 and over or with underlying conditions. Since it is known to be effective only if taken within 5 days of symptom onset, it is necessary to carefully check for any contraindicated medications before prescribing and taking it.

Moreover, the importance of adhering to personal quarantine rules has increased. The transmissibility of the Omicron variant is 2 to 3 times that of the previous Delta variant, so appropriate measures such as vaccination and mask-wearing are necessary. The government recommends wearing KF80 or KF94 masks when visiting enclosed, crowded, or close-contact environments or vulnerable facilities, regardless of vaccination status, and urges regular ventilation in places where people stay. It is also important to promptly take rapid antigen or PCR tests if symptoms are suspected.

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