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PCR tests reserved for special groups in Omicron areas

Published: 21 Jan. 2022, 16:33 Updated: 21 Jan. 2022, 20:01

A medical worker talks to a coronavirus-infected patient via video link at Seongnam Citizens Medical Center in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, on Friday. The patient is being treated at home with Paxlovid, Covid-19 treatment pills developed by U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer. [YONHAP]

Starting next Wednesday, free polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for Covid will only be available to high-risk groups such as the elderly in Gwangju, South Jeolla, Pyeongtaek and Anseong, where the Omicron variant is now dominant.

People who don't qualify for PCR tests will qualify for rapid antigen tests at a slight charge.

The government on Friday implemented Omicron-tailored public health measures in four regions where Omicron cases have surged, with new testing and treatment guidelines.

As of last week, Omicron accounted for 59.2 percent of all new infections in the Honam region — referring to the Jeolla provinces and Gwangju — and became the dominant strain. In Gwangju and South Jeolla alone, Omicron reached nearly 80 percent of new infections.

Pyeongtaek, home to a U.S. Forces Korea base where a multitude of Omicron infections was found, and neighboring Anseong are also regions where Omicron is now the dominant strain of the disease.

Noting that Omicron spreads two to three times faster than the Delta variant, but also is less likely to lead to severe illness, the government emphasized the importance of swift diagnose and treatment of patients at higher risk.

High-risk group includes people who are epidemiologically linked to virus patients, those with a doctor’s note citing the need for a Covid-19 test, people aged 60 or older, and those who tested positive from self-testing kits or rapid antigen tests. People with symptoms weren’t included because of the ambiguity of that definition, health authorities said.

People outside those groups won’t be able to get a PCR test at a Covid-19 screening center.

If they feel some respiratory symptom, they can get a free self-testing kit at the screening center. They can also visit a designated respiratory medical clinic and get a rapid antigen test from a doctor, which will cost 5,000 won ($4) or 30 percent of the doctor’s fee.

If they test positive on the rapid antigen tests, they’ll be monitored remotely by the hospital, and if necessary, receive outpatient treatment.

To ease the burden of managing quarantined patients, the government decided to shorten the isolation period for fully vaccinated patients — except for the severely ill — from the current 10 to seven days. This rule will apply nationwide, including the four regions, from next Wednesday.

Along with focusing on rapid testing and treating high-risk groups, the government decided to lower the age limit for oral Covid-19 treatment pills to 60 or older. Previously it was 65 or older.

Oral antiviral drugs, which are currently administered to patients undergoing treatment at home or at Covid-19 residential treatment centers, will be supplied to more places, such as nursing facilities and hospitals treating infectious diseases.

Meanwhile, the government tightened its immigration controls in a bid to reduce the number of imported cases.

Health authorities announced Friday that the validity period of the quarantine exemption issued to those who entered Korea for important business purposes will be shortened from the current one month to 14 days from the date of issuance.

In addition, travelers exempted from quarantine will have to undergo rapid antigen tests in addition to PCR tests.

Currently, people who have been granted exemptions for self-isolation have to receive PCR tests three times: before arrival, immediately after arrival, and the sixth or seventh day after arrival. Starting Monday, they must conduct an additional two rapid antigen tests using self-testing kits, and record the results on a mobile application. Testing kits have to be bought individually.

Korea reported 6,769 new Covid-19 cases on Friday, and of them, 287 were imported from overseas, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.

BY SEO JI-EUN [[email protected]]