11,162 People Tested at Suwon Temporary Testing Centers; 21 Confirmed Positive

[Suwon Ilbo=Seo Dong-young Reporter] As of the 23rd, 11,162 people have been tested for COVID-19 at temporary testing centers established by Suwon City since the 14th, according to statistics.

10,816 people underwent PCR (nasopharyngeal swab nucleic acid amplification test) testing, and 346 people received rapid antigen testing. Twenty-one people (0.19%) tested positive.

The city has been operating temporary testing centers at four district health centers and Suwon Station Plaza (operating since the 16th) since the 14th. Osan City's temporary testing center is also located at Suwon Station Plaza, and Hwaseong City operates a separate testing center on the first floor of the Suwon Station Transfer Center. The temporary testing centers will operate until January 3 next year.

Anyone can receive free testing regardless of epidemiological connection to confirmed cases or symptoms. No reservation is required; at the site, people only need to provide their gender, age group, symptoms, and a phone number to receive test results.

At the temporary testing centers, samples are collected through PCR testing by inserting a swab deep into the nostril as the standard practice. However, when PCR testing is difficult or rapid testing is necessary, medical personnel may use rapid antigen test kits to conduct 'rapid antigen testing' at their discretion.

With rapid antigen testing, COVID-19 infection status can be determined within 15 minutes. Those who test positive on rapid antigen testing have samples collected for PCR testing and are transported home.

The temporary testing centers operate from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 to 5 p.m. on weekdays and weekends.

PCR diagnostic testing continues at the existing four district health center screening clinics and screening clinics established at Catholic University St. Vincent's Hospital, Ajou University Hospital, Dong Suwon Hospital, and Gyeonggi Province Medical Center Suwon Hospital. The four district health centers' screening clinics are open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends.

Meanwhile, the city conducted 3,299 rapid antigen tests on nursing and psychiatric hospital users and staff through the 22nd. All test results were negative.

Suwon Mayor Yeum Tae-young said, "At the temporary testing centers, people can receive testing while minimizing personal information exposure," and added, "Even if you have no symptoms, if you have any concerns at all, please do not hesitate to get tested."