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Staffers at Seoul’s Jung District Office set up a temporary screening center in the plaza of Seoul Station. (Baek So-ah, staff photographer)

Seoul will set up 56 temporary screening centers throughout the city starting Dec. 14. The screening centers will enable anyone to receive a free COVID-19 test, irrespective of whether they have symptoms or are epidemiologically connected to a confirmed case. On Dec. 13, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced the launch of the centers in partnership with 25 autonomous districts as part of countermeasures for the “focused testing period” for the Seoul Metropolitan Area (SCA) announced by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) on Dec. 10.

Twenty-one centers will open on Dec. 14, with the other 35 set to begin operations shortly after. They will be located in major subway stations with high pedestrian traffic, in quiet parks to promote easy access, and in parking lots at public facilities that have closed because of social distancing measures. Each center will be manned by two medical professionals (one army surgeon and one nurse), with at least five other staff present to handle administrative work.

The testing stations will mainly use polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests with a nasal swab, but rapid antigen tests that enable diagnosis within 30 minutes may be carried out for those with suspected symptoms who require a quick result. Other forms of PCR tests will also be used if obtaining a nasal swab is difficult.

“The only way to contain the current wave without further harm is through widespread preemptive testing so that we can detect asymptomatic infections in the community as soon as possible and quarantine them,” said acting Seoul Mayor Seo Jung-hyup. “If you are a symptomless carrier then it can lead to great harm for your family members, friends and colleagues, so I urge everyone to take action and get tested.”

By Park Tae-woo, staff reporter

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