COVID-19, Diagnosis Testing and Quarantine Release Decisions Made Only After One Week from Onset

Due to the group infection at Itaewon clubs, the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is rapidly increasing. On the 11th, foreigners and citizens lined up at the screening clinic of Yongsan-gu Public Health Center in Seoul to get tested. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] To be released from isolation after contracting the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), a diagnostic test must be taken at least one week after the first symptoms appear, and the result must be negative. Although the period of 'one week' was not previously specified, the guidelines have now been changed. There were some cases where diagnostic tests were taken immediately after a positive diagnosis despite no symptoms, but now symptoms will be observed after a certain period.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 11th, the revised 8th edition of the COVID-19 response guidelines newly includes a minimum elapsed period of one week for releasing symptomatic confirmed cases from isolation. Previously, isolation was lifted when 'clinical and testing criteria were met,' but it has been changed to 'isolation is lifted when clinical and testing criteria are met after 7 days from onset.'

The clinical criteria mean the disappearance of respiratory symptoms such as fever or cough, and the testing criteria mean a negative result in the genetic test (RT-PCR) that determines COVID-19 infection. Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, explained, "For mild cases where patients have no symptoms immediately upon hospitalization, testing can be done right away if symptoms disappear, but since symptoms can slightly improve or worsen, it means testing should be done only after at least 7 days."

The case definitions eligible for diagnostic testing were also specifically stated. These include fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, as well as loss of smell and taste, and pneumonia. In the previous guidelines, it was expressed as 'pneumonia of unknown cause, etc.,' which some criticized as ambiguous and possibly discouraging proactive diagnostic testing.

Additionally, it has been made easier to get tested if a family member or cohabitant or someone living in the same facility shows suspected COVID-19 symptoms, if contact occurred within 14 days after entering the country from abroad with family, cohabitants, friends, or acquaintances, or if one has visited institutions or places where confirmed cases have occurred, considering the community spread situation.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.