Jeong-eui Son, Chairman of Softbank Group. Tokyo/Reuters Yonhap News
Japan’s Softbank Group reported on the 30th that it has decided to expand the subject of gene amplification (PCR) tests to determine if they have Corona 19 from March next year, to individuals other than companies and local governments. As the number of people who want to undergo corona testing has recently increased, it seems that the private corona testing market in Japan is growing. Those who wish to undergo an inspection conducted by SoftBank can apply online and the inspection kit will be delivered to their home. Saliva is put in a designated container and sent to SoftBank Group’s inspection center in Chiba Prefecture or Hokkaido. The results are displayed on the day or the next day the specimen arrives, and notified through a dedicated application on the smartphone. The cost of the inspection is expected to be around 2200 yen (about 23,200 won, excluding shipping) at a time including tax. Considering that the cost of undergoing an examination at a medical institution in Japan is 15,000 to 30,000 yen, it is quite inexpensive. Softbank plans to expand its inspection capability to 11,000 people a day as of January next year. According to Japanese reports, as the number of confirmed coronaviruses has increased rapidly in recent years, reservations are flooding into private facilities that can undergo corona testing. In private facilities, even asymptomatic patients can be tested for a certain fee. It is free to examine at a medical institution, but it must be classified as a symptomatic or close contact. The Kinoshita Group, which has a housing business and a medical corporation, has opened two test centers in Tokyo. About 2,000 people can be tested a day, but reservations have been made until early next year. The cost of the inspection is 2900 yen (about 37,000 won). By Kim So-yeon, staff reporter [email protected]