希望者に無料検査開始　オミクロン株の市中感染で―東京都

　東京都は２５日、新型コロナウイルスの新たな変異株「オミクロン株」の市中感染が確認されたことを受け、無症状の希望者全員に対する無料検査を始めた。人と接触する機会の多い人や、年末年始に帰省を予定している人などに不安を解消してもらい、感染拡大の抑制につなげる。
　同日、都民を対象に都内１２カ所の検査機関で始め、２７日にはドラッグストアなども含め約１８０カ所に規模を拡大。１日計３万件の検査に対応できるようにする。（2021/12/25-14:19）

The Tokyo metropolitan government on Saturday started free COVID-19 screening for anyone who wishes to get tested though having no symptoms.
   The move followed the discovery of the first community-acquired case of the omicron variant of the novel coronavirus in the Japanese capital Friday.
   The metropolitan government aims to prevent infections from spreading through the free test program, designed to help eliminate anxiety among people, including those who need to have direct contact with others frequently and plan to travel during the year-end and New Year holiday period.
   The initiative started at 12 testing institutions, targeting Tokyo residents. The free tests will become available at about 180 locations from Monday, including drug stores, so that a total of 30,000 people will get tested a day.
   "We want to prevent an increase in the number of close contacts and make effective treatment available as soon as possible by helping people confirm their (infection) status through the free test," Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike told reporters Saturday, during a visit to one of the 12 test sites. "The Tokyo government will go ahead with this policy," she said.