As Expert Rapid Antigen Test Confirmed, Screening Clinics 'Breathe Easier'

Average Daily Weekly Visitors Decrease by 100,000 in March... Possibility of Excluding Rapid Antigen Tests at Screening Clinics

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] As confirmed diagnosis has become possible solely through professional rapid antigen tests (RAT) conducted at local clinics and hospitals, the number of PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests at screening health centers has decreased.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the weekly cumulative number of tests at screening clinics dropped from 3,514,125 in the first week of March (February 26?March 4) to 2,756,175 in the fourth week (March 19?25). Since the 14th, the health authorities have recognized positive results from professional rapid antigen tests conducted by medical personnel as confirmed cases.

Excluding the most recent 7 days, the weekly cumulative number of tests in March has consistently exceeded 3 million. The second week of March (March 5?11) recorded 3,960,377 tests, and the third week (March 12?18) had 3,589,728 tests.

The average daily number of tests per week was lowest in the fourth week at approximately 393,700 tests. The figures for each week were ▲ 502,000 in the first week of March ▲ 565,800 in the second week ▲ 512,800 in the third week. The day with the fewest tests in March was also after the 14th, on the 20th, with 279,554 tests. This was the first time since February 21, when new confirmed cases were in the 90,000 range, that the daily test count dropped to the 200,000 range.

As the number of PCR tests at health centers decreased and rapid antigen testing concentrated at local clinics and hospitals, health authorities are also considering suspending rapid antigen testing at screening clinics. The authorities stated on the 25th that they plan to announce a decision after gathering opinions from local governments and reviewing the matter with related ministries.

Lee Ki-il, the first controller of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, explained, "The option to suspend (rapid antigen testing at health centers) is a matter to be decided after comprehensively reviewing PCR capacity and rapid antigen testing at medical institutions."

Earlier, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on the morning of the 25th, "Since last week, the decrease in PCR testing volume has somewhat eased the burden on health resources," adding, "It is important to secure the response capacity of health centers, which are the frontline of field quarantine."

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