Gyeonggi Province Provides Free COVID-19 Tests for Residents Returning from Overseas

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province residents entering from overseas can now receive free COVID-19 diagnostic tests at 50 health centers (screening clinics) within the province, even if they show no symptoms, if they wish to do so.
Lim Seung-gwan, Co-Director of Gyeonggi Province's COVID-19 Emergency Headquarters (Director of Gyeonggi Provincial Medical Center Anseong Hospital), announced in a regular briefing on the 27th that one-stop support will be provided to overseas-entering Gyeonggi residents, from test guidance to free implementation.
This is a preemptive response to growing concerns over the "reverse influx" risk of COVID-19 cases entering the country after being infected abroad.

Starting from the 25th, Gyeonggi residents entering from overseas can receive free tests at any of the 50 health centers (screening clinics) within the province upon visiting with their resident registration certificate, immigration status certificate or passport, and ID card in hand, even without suspected COVID-19 symptoms such as cough or fever.
Among 115 new confirmed cases that occurred in the province over the past week, cases related to overseas influx accounted for 32.2%, or 37 cases.
By country, 22 confirmed cases originating from Europe—including France, the United Kingdom, and Spain—are the most, followed by 13 from the United States, 1 from Thailand, and 1 from Iran, showing an increasing trend of confirmed cases from U.S. entrants. The government strengthened quarantine measures for entrants from Europe on the 22nd, and as of 0 o'clock on the 27th, also strengthened quarantine for entrants from the United States.
Director Lim urged, "Residents entering from overseas are asked to cooperate with quarantine and quarantine authorities' measures, and if symptoms develop, please visit a free test screening clinic within the province."

Meanwhile, as of 0 o'clock on the 27th, the number of confirmed cases in Gyeonggi Province increased by 10 from 0 o'clock the previous day to 413 cases. (Nationwide: 9,332 cases) The incidence rate per 1 million residents stands at 30.1 cases, placing it 8th among the 17 cities and provinces nationwide. By city and county, Seongnam has 106 cases, Bucheon 60, and Yongin 46, with confirmed cases occurring across 25 cities and counties in the province; by population, Seongnam has the highest incidence rate at 11 cases per 100,000 residents, followed by Gwacheon at 8.6 cases and Gunpo at 7.1 cases.
Among Gyeonggi Province's confirmed cases, 131 have been discharged, and 278 are currently in isolation at hospitals and life treatment centers within the province.
Regarding Gyeonggi Province's bed operation status, as of 0 o'clock on the 27th, Gyeonggi Province has secured 485 treatment beds for confirmed cases across a total of 14 hospitals through cooperation with 3 nationally designated hospitalization treatment hospitals, 6 Gyeonggi Provincial public medical institutions, 1 Seongnam Medical Center, and 4 private tertiary general hospitals within the province; currently 317 beds, or 65.4%, are in use.
At Gyeonggi Province's first life treatment center, which opened on the 19th, 26 people have been admitted to date, with 15 discharged, and 11 currently in residence. Stable confirmed patients who have completed the minimum observation period at hospitals are being admitted, with an average length of stay of 3 days, circulating at a rapid pace. On this day, 10 admissions are scheduled, bringing the total in residence to 21 people.

Director Lim also explained the confirmed case situations at Mirae Kieum Daycare Center in Siheung and Hyosarang Nursing Home in Gunpo.
Mirae Kieum Daycare Center in Siheung had one daycare teacher confirmed on the 24th, followed by full testing of 33 children, 60 parents, and 14 teachers—107 people total—with all daycare-related contacts testing negative. However, 2 family members and acquaintances who had contact with the teacher tested positive, bringing the total related confirmed cases to 3. Contacts are currently under self-quarantine and are being continuously monitored.
For Hyosarang Nursing Home in Gunpo, where the first confirmed case occurred on the 19th, there are currently a total of 16 confirmed cases. The province is conducting self-cohort isolation of 20 people on the 4th to 5th floors within the facility and continues to monitor them closely.

Additionally, at the web seminar "First COVID-19 Gyeonggi Webinar" held on the 26th, epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 and clinical experiences with mild and severe COVID-19 patients were shared.
About 200 medical personnel from frontline medical institutions and infectious disease management experts attended the webinar, sharing knowledge and experience and expressing expectations for the Gyeonggi webinar.
The webinar is scheduled to be held every Thursday at 7 p.m., and on April 2, it will cover COVID-19 diagnostic tests, an introduction to Gyeonggi Province's confirmed patient health management system, and the epidemiological characteristics of confirmed cases in Gyeonggi Province.
Director Lim said, "Going forward, Gyeonggi Province's COVID-19 Emergency Headquarters and the expert advisory committee plan to continue various efforts not only to develop COVID-19 response strategies but also to share experience and knowledge with frontline medical personnel."