Some COVID test sites in Shandong upgraded

Some COVID-19 testing sites in cities of Shandong province have been upgraded to temporary fever clinics to provide more convenient services as local governments optimize their responses to the coronavirus pandemic.

In Taierzhuang district of Zaozhuang, some testing sites have also been working as temporary fever clinics since Sunday. Signs remind residents that they can get convenient medical services at a particular location.

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Shandong's Health Commission released a notice on Sunday calling for medical service providers in both urban and rural areas to coordinate resources to cover residents' medical needs.

Measures suggested by the commission included upgrading the testing booths to fever clinics and building a diagnosis and treatment medical service base that a resident can reach within 15 minutes.

Chengwu county of Heze has upgraded 56 testing stations into fever treatment service stations to provide diagnosis and medicine. Each station has one doctor and one nurse on duty, and keeps some medicines in stock. The medicines available will be adjusted and replenished based on demand.

The service stations are being set up to better provide medical services to residents, as more people are expected to return home with the approach of the Lunar New Year holiday, said Ping Yuhua, head of Chengwu County People's Hospital, on iqilu.com.

At a temporary fever clinic in the Huaiyin district of Jinan, it takes a resident around 10 minutes to see a doctor and get proper medicine.

The testing site had already delivered some basics, making the upgrade easier than building a new fever clinic, said Lyu Qiang of the community medical service center on Middle Dahuaishu Street in Huaiyin district.

"We spent a day and a half upgrading a testing booth to a fever clinic," Lyu said.

The temporary street fever clinic has a doctor and a pharmacist. In addition, it has been integrated into the city's medical insurance system.