COVID-19 Testing Crowds Local Clinics... Concerns Over Infection at Pharmacies

Rapid Antigen Testing at Public Health Centers Suspended from the 11th
Experts: "Only Mitigation Without Solving In-Hospital Infection Issues"

An announcement stating that rapid antigen testing will be suspended from the 11th is placed at the temporary screening clinic set up at Seoul Station Plaza on the 10th, as the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases continues to decline. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] As health authorities push for a transition to a "routine medical system," allowing COVID-19 confirmed patients to visit local clinics or pharmacies, a situation has arisen where general patients are reluctant to visit hospitals or pharmacies. This is due to concerns that gathering closely in a small space while waiting for their turn could lead to infection. With the suspension of rapid antigen testing at public health center screening clinics, and COVID-19 testing now only available at local clinics for the general public, these concerns have grown even stronger.

Following the news that rapid antigen testing at public health centers will be suspended from the 11th, online communities have seen reactions such as, "Even now, since general treatment and COVID-19 testing are not separated, I feel reluctant, and I don't know what to do if I need to visit a hospital in the future." One netizen said, "While the plan to dualize testing so that only PCR tests are done at screening clinics is good, the surge in visitors to local clinics honestly raises concerns about in-hospital infections."

These concerns have been continuously raised since COVID-19 testing began at local clinics. Ham Mo (25), who visited an internal medicine clinic with symptoms of enteritis, said, "I stayed in the same space as confirmed patients who tested positive with rapid antigen tests and received prescriptions, but I was afraid of catching COVID-19 before my enteritis got better." Last month, in an online community of patients with pulmonary diseases, a post appeared stating, "After just one outpatient visit, my mother was confirmed positive for COVID-19," adding, "Since there are many confirmed cases, we need to be cautious even in hospitals."

Health authorities are expected to continue the transition to a routine medical system. At the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on the 15th, distancing guidelines are likely to be eased based on the decline in key indicators, including the number of new confirmed cases. Authorities are also considering a "post-Omicron response system," which includes shortening the isolation period for confirmed patients and downgrading the infectious disease classification.

Experts agree on the necessity of normalizing the medical system but warn against rushing the process.Professor Lee Hyuk-min of the Department of Laboratory Medicine at Severance Hospital said, "Allowing outpatient treatment for patients who need it is good, but right now, easing is happening without proper preparation," adding, "Returning to a routine system is possible only after infection control education is conducted and facility improvements are made to prevent in-hospital infections."

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