A total of 190 medical clinics in Taiwan have started to offer COVID-19 PCR testing to help conserve hospital emergency room capacity, which has been under stress as cases surge, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Friday.
In a CECC statement, 190 clinics have been included in the list of COVID-19 designated community testing sites to provide government-funded PCR tests for those eligible, including people with a positive rapid test result or who been assessed by a doctor and are suspected of having the disease.
The list of such clinics is available at a Centers for Disease Control website, the CECC said.
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The move accompanies the requirement that people without clear COVID-19 symptoms who suspect they have the disease must get a less sensitive but faster rapid test and test positive before pursuing a more accurate PCR test.
These steps were taken to prevent asymptomatic and mild COVID-19 cases from clogging up hospital emergency room services and affecting critical medical capacity.
People should make a telephone appointment and confirm their appointment before they go to the clinics for their PCR tests, the CECC said.
Health Minister Chen Shih-chung (???) said Friday people can make an appointment at the clinics if they tested positive with a rapid test, or feel they are at risk and have a fever, respiratory symptoms, abnormal taste and smell, or unexplained diarrhea.
People should go to a hospital, however, if more serious symptoms arise, such as breathlessness, breathing difficulties, persistent chest pain, or bluish skin, lips, or nails, Chen said.
Other serious symptoms also include having a heartbeat of over 100 beats per minute without having a fever, or being unable to eat, drink or take medicine, or producing no urine or showing a significant decrease in urine output in a 24-hour period, Chen said.
Taiwan on Friday reported 36,213 new COVID-19 cases, a single-day high, and 10 deaths from the disease, according to the CECC.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel