Toll Fees Charged for Three Days During Chuseok Holiday...Health Insurance Applies to Diagnostic Tests for Hospitalized Patients (Update)

Government "Strict Response to Enforcement of Prohibited Gatherings"... Fines for Organizers and Participants

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] The government has decided to reinstate toll fees on expressways for three days from September 30 to October 2 during the Chuseok holiday to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

Kim Kang-lip, the spokesperson for the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (1st Vice Minister of Health and Welfare), stated at a briefing held at the Government Complex Sejong on the 16th, "To reduce expressway traffic during the Chuseok period, toll fees on expressways, which have been waived during holidays since Chuseok 2017, will be reinstated."

Spokesperson Kim said, "Toll fees will be charged on expressways during the Chuseok holiday as usual," and urged, "To prevent the spread of COVID-19, please refrain from visiting your hometown and relatives as much as possible during the Chuseok holiday."

The government expects that charging toll fees on expressways will minimize interregional movement and suppress unnecessary travel. The revenue from toll fees will be used for public purposes related to COVID-19 response.

The government also announced plans to strictly respond to acts such as forcibly holding assemblies that are prohibited to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The National Police Agency notified bans on 87 out of a total of 435 assemblies reported to be held in Seoul next month on the 3rd, which were either reported with 10 or more participants or reported in prohibited areas. As Seoul City extended the ban on assemblies of 10 or more people until October 11, the Hangul Day holiday, additional notifications of bans will be issued for newly reported assemblies of 10 or more people.

Spokesperson Kim said, "If prohibited assemblies are forcibly held, we plan to strictly respond to illegal acts, including promptly proceeding with dispersal procedures."

Introduction of Dedicated Wards System Due to Surge in Severe and Critical Patients... 100 Additional Beds by Year-End
Health Insurance to Cover Diagnostic Tests for New Hospital Admissions Starting from the 21st

The government has taken measures as concerns over intensive care beds have arisen due to a significant increase in severe and critical patients recently. They plan to secure more than 100 additional intensive care beds by the end of the year by introducing a 'dedicated ward' system, where entire wards are operated exclusively for patients in critical condition.

Additionally, by the first quarter of next year, through the 'Emergency Intensive Care Bed Project,' about 400 more beds will be added, securing a total of over 600 intensive care beds.

Furthermore, the government has decided to apply health insurance coverage to diagnostic tests for newly admitted hospital patients to reduce their out-of-pocket expenses. Starting from the 21st, patients newly admitted to tertiary general hospitals, general hospitals, and hospitals who undergo COVID-19 diagnostic tests will have their test costs covered by health insurance.

Patients undergoing diagnostic tests will bear 50% of the test cost, paying an additional out-of-pocket amount of about 10,000 KRW for the first-stage test and about 30,000 KRW for the second-stage test.

Spokesperson Kim stated, "The application of health insurance for diagnostic tests of hospital inpatients will be implemented nationwide and will be applied temporarily during the period when social distancing level 2 measures are in effect." He added, "The recent stagnation in the decline of confirmed cases is due to a considerable amount of latent community infections," and reiterated, "Please refrain from visiting your hometown and relatives as much as possible during the Chuseok holiday."

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