Naju-si Operates 'Designated Respiratory Treatment Medical Institutions' for COVID-19 Prevention

Published 08 Feb.2022 15:24(KST)

[Naju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yukbong] Naju City in Jeollanam-do is operating nine medical institutions at the clinic and hospital level within the city as ‘designated respiratory treatment medical institutions’ to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The city announced on the 8th that, following the transition of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters’ COVID-19 response system to focus on local community medical institutions, rapid antigen tests (RAT) have been conducted at five clinic- and hospital-level medical institutions since the 3rd.

The designated medical institutions include five locations: NH Mirae Children’s Hospital, designated as a respiratory clinic on the 26th of last month, Naju General Hospital, Nampyeong Sintong Clinic, Gongsan Clinic, and Hangaram Internal Medicine Clinic.

Additionally, Naju Sokpyeon Internal Medicine Clinic (February 11), Paranso Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic (February 15), Naju Hanguk Clinic (February 21), and Cham Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic (February 28) are scheduled to be designated and operated as dedicated medical institutions.

Patients exhibiting suspected COVID-19 symptoms such as cough, sputum, and fever who visit these medical institutions will receive expert rapid antigen tests (RAT), diagnosis, and prescriptions based on the initial diagnosis by a physician.

If a positive result is confirmed by RAT, the patient can undergo a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test at the respective medical institution or screening clinic.

A health center official stated, “We plan to continuously expand the number of designated respiratory medical institutions so that residents can quickly receive COVID-19 testing, diagnosis, and treatment at local clinics and hospitals without having to visit distant and crowded screening clinics.”

They added, “We ask everyone to strictly follow quarantine rules such as wearing masks and social distancing to block the spread of the Omicron variant.”