Rapid Test Positives to Be Counted as COVID Cases Starting May 26 新規上路 快篩陽經視訊問診後即判定確診

Starting on Thursday, May 26, rapid test results can be used by all Taiwan residents in place of PCR tests to confirm COVID-19 infections. 

The doctor asked questions about the patient's conditions through a video call appointment. This is called the coronavirus; it affects our respiratory tracts. After confirming that the patient has contracted COVID-19, the doctor provided clinical instructions for home care. The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced that starting on the 26th, rapid antigen tests can be used by all Taiwan residents in place of PCR tests to confirm COVID-19 infections. Patients can then be qualified faster for COVID medication evaluations. It is hoped that high-risk patients can receive the medicine as soon as possible to prevent their conditions from deteriorating.

Che Tsan-wei, Pediatrician: “First of all, more people will be booking doctor's appointments for sure. Some people don't know yet that positive rapid test results are now equal to positive PCR test results. Yesterday, for example, I told some patients through video call that if they felt sick yesterday already and got tested positive with rapid tests, they should not have delayed until today to see the doctor, thinking that they still need to book PCR tests.”

Doctors are now extremely busy at the clinics since they have to see regular patients while also allocating time to go online with COVID patients. A doctor's appointment can usually be done in 5 minutes, but it gets longer with video call appointments. Sometimes doctors have to wait for patients to find their health insurance cards and positive rapid test cassettes, or the bad internet connection makes it hard for doctors and patients to carry on a smooth conversation quickly.

Che Tsan-wei, Pediatrician: “It takes about 15 minutes to get through with one video call appointment. It takes a long time especially when there's a bad internet connection, the patient can't hear my voice and I can't hear the patient's voice. So, this is how we do it. We have to do the video call first so I can take a look at how the patient is overall. Then, if possible, I will switch to a phone call afterwards, but before that, I need to screenshot a picture of the patient holding his or her health insurance card, with me also in the picture.”

Doctors have to repeatedly remind patients what they need to show for the screenshot. If a smooth internet connection is not available at home for the patient, family members can help bring the patient's health insurance card to the clinic to get the doctor's evaluation.  

醫師使用手機視訊，了解病患現在的身體狀況如何。在確定病患是新冠肺炎確診後，醫師仔細講解注意事項。為了加快高風險個案用藥，指揮中心從26日開始，開放全民適用「快篩陽即確診」，也讓看診人數增加。

小兒科診所醫師車參薇說：「第一個，看診的量一定會大增。有些民眾，他是他不知道說，今天就是快篩（陽）等同陽性（確診）。不然的話，昨天一開始的時候，我就跟他們說，那你今天（25號）的話，你還需要做PCR。（有患者）已經不舒服了，已經他們的快篩是陽性了，延到今天，我們來處理視訊的這件事情。」

診所內，有一般病患等待看診，還要排時間針對新冠確診病患視訊問診，讓醫師非常忙碌。以一般門診來說，大約5分鐘就能結束，但視訊看診還要考量到，有些時候民眾沒有準備好健保卡、快篩等相關物件，或者是通訊設備卡不卡，這些都會拉長問診時間。

小兒科診所醫師車參薇表示：「（一個人）要15分鐘，特別是那個，你知道頻寬卡卡的時候，他也聽不到我的聲音，我也聽不到他的聲音。那所以，我們的做法是這樣子，那一定視訊先，我們還是要先看你的整個人的狀況，那我們可能的話，就會跟你說，（視訊完）那我們改成電話的，（視訊時）你的人跟你的健保卡，還有下面有我的人，一起要照一張相片，然後我們要截圖。」

不斷向病患說明要拍攝哪些物品，醫師也說明，如果家中的通訊設備不夠好，可以請沒有染疫的家人帶健保卡等資料來幫忙看診。