Gyeonggi Province Enforces Administrative Order for COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing of Symptomatic Individuals

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province is enforcing an "Administrative Order for COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing of Symptomatic Individuals," stating that early detection of symptomatic individuals is the best measure to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

From April 15 for three weeks, suspected cases who have been recommended COVID-19 diagnostic testing by a physician or pharmacist must undergo diagnostic testing within 48 hours.

The province announced on April 14 that in response to a request for cooperation from the Central Disaster Management Headquarters for COVID-19, Gyeonggi, Seoul, and Incheon will implement administrative orders with identical content for three weeks (Incheon from April 14, and Gyeonggi and Seoul from April 15).

Under this administrative order, residents of Gyeonggi Province and those residing in the province who visit medical institutions or pharmacies with COVID-19 symptoms (fever, sore throat, muscle pain, etc.) and receive recommendations for COVID-19 diagnostic testing from a physician or pharmacist must undergo diagnostic testing at a public health center screening clinic or temporary screening facility within 48 hours.

In accordance with this, hospitals and clinics must record whether diagnostic testing was recommended in medical records, and pharmacies must maintain a list of those recommended for diagnostic testing.

Those recommended for testing who fail to comply with the administrative order and contract COVID-19 may face criminal penalties, including fines of up to 2 million won, in accordance with the Infectious Disease Prevention and Management Act.

If infection spreads due to non-compliance with the order, cost recovery can be claimed for all quarantine-related expenses (testing, investigation, treatment, etc.).

Those recommended for testing can receive rapid diagnostic testing through 46 public health centers in the province (free testing since April 9) and 66 temporary screening facilities.

The province plans to distribute posters and promotional materials to hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies regarding COVID-19 diagnostic testing announcements and visits to screening clinics, aiming to encourage residents to actively undergo COVID-19 diagnostic testing.

Lim Seung-gwan, Head of the COVID-19 Emergency Response Unit, emphasized at a regular press conference on April 12, "When people with symptoms are detected late, the scale of cluster infections grows larger and the resulting damage becomes more severe. We urge all residents, facility and organization leaders, and healthcare workers to participate in early detection of symptomatic individuals."