Terminal and critically ill patients allowed in-person visits at nursing hospitals and facilities from the 9th

Improvement Plan for Visiting Standards at Long-term Care Hospitals and Facilities
Non-contact Visits Allowed for All Residents When Partitions Are Installed in Separate Spaces

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] The government has decided to allow in-person visits for severely ill patients hospitalized in long-term care hospitals starting from the 9th, on the condition that visitors wear protective gear and present a negative test result. This measure aims to address ongoing complaints from patients and their families, as well as concerns about care blind spots, due to visitation restrictions at long-term care hospitals and facilities under social distancing measures.

On the 5th, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced that after receiving and discussing the "Improvement Plan for Visitation Standards at Long-term Care Hospitals and Facilities" from the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Central Accident Response Headquarters, this decision was made. Until now, under social distancing levels, non-contact visits were allowed at long-term care hospitals at level 2 or below, and at long-term care facilities at level 2.5 or below. However, many long-term care hospitals and facilities independently banned or restricted visits due to concerns about group infections, exacerbating the difficulties faced by patients and their families.

Accordingly, the Central Accident Response Headquarters will clarify the standards for non-contact visits for all patients or residents in long-term care hospitals and facilities. First, on the premise of compliance with quarantine rules, a well-ventilated separate space will be prepared with partitions installed to allow visits in a non-contact manner. Specific quarantine rules and operational plans, such as a prior reservation system, checking visitors for fever and respiratory symptoms, prohibition of physical contact and food consumption, will be established and implemented through separate guidelines.

In cases such as end-of-life, unconscious or equivalently severely ill patients or residents, or when the attending physician recognizes the necessity of visits for the patient's emotional stability, contact visits will be allowed as reflected in the guidelines. In such cases, to prevent infection transmission, visitors must wear personal protective equipment including KF94 (or N95) masks, disposable waterproof long-sleeved gowns, disposable gloves, goggles or face shields, and shoe covers in single rooms or separate independent spaces. Additionally, contact visits will be permitted on the condition of presenting a negative PCR test result within 24 hours prior to the visit or a negative rapid antigen test result on-site.

The improved visitation standards will be implemented starting from the 9th, considering the preparation period for arranging visitation rooms and prior reservations.

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