• Chia-Jen Liu, Chun-Yi Yang, Yi-Long Chen, WangSamuel Shih-ChihSSDepartment of Health and Welfare, University of Taipei, Taipei, 11036, Taiwan., Chao-Mei Chu, Ming-Hsuan Hsieh, Sheng-Jean Huang, Yu-Ping Chang, and Chia-Chen Hsu.
• Superintendent Office, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, 10341, Taiwan; Department of Health and Welfare, University of Taipei, Taipei, 11036, Taiwan; Center for General Education, University of Marine Technology, Taipei, 11174, Taiwan.
• J Formos Med Assoc. 2022 Nov 1; 121 (11): 2356-2359.

AbstractAn outbreak occurred in Wanhua District of Taipei City. It was traced to a cluster infection originating from a teahouse. To prevent further large-scaled community spread, the Taipei City Government established the first community rapid test screening station. This report describes the station's strategy and performance and key factors that contributed to its operation. The project involves collaboration among various departments of Taipei City Government, including the health, environmental, police, transportation, and fire departments. The station provides rapid screening, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, and immediate isolation and follow-up medical services upon the detection of a positive case. These services are accessible to local residents and are intended to ease hospitals' burdens. In 36 days, a total of 8532 people were tested, and 419 confirmed cases were identified. Over the same period, the weekly number of positive cases in Wanhua District decreased from 356 to 40, and the PCR positive rate decreased from 21.7% to 1.2%. The policy of establishing rapid screening station, contact tracing and mask wearing policy are key strategies for interrupting chains of transmission of COVID-19. This intervention has become a model for preventing the spread of the epidemic and establishing community rapid screening stations in Taiwan.Copyright © 2022 Formosan Medical Association. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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