In-Person Visits Allowed if One Side Completes Second COVID-19 Vaccination for Patients and Visitors at Long-Term Care Hospitals and Facilities (Update)

PCR Testing Frequency for Nursing Hospitals in the Seoul Metropolitan Area Relaxed to Once a Week

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] The government will allow in-person (contact) visits at long-term care hospitals and facilities if either the inpatient or the visitor has completed COVID-19 vaccination, permitting visits starting two weeks after vaccination.

Yoon Tae-ho, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters' quarantine team, stated at the COVID-19 regular briefing on the 30th, "We plan to improve and apply visitation standards for long-term care hospitals and facilities for those who have completed the second dose of vaccination."

Yoon explained, "Going forward, if either the visitor or the inpatient has completed the second dose of the vaccine, in-person visits will be allowed two weeks after vaccination. While maintaining minimum quarantine measures such as designated visitation areas and wearing protective equipment, the requirement for visitors to present a negative PCR test result will be waived."

The government will provide detailed implementation plans and schedules later, considering preparation periods such as the timing of the second vaccine dose and the installation of additional visitation rooms.

Additionally, further easing measures for staff and facilities that have completed the second dose will be decided comprehensively by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters after analyzing infection occurrences and vaccine effectiveness.

Quarantine rules at long-term care hospitals and facilities will also be gradually relaxed.

First, for each long-term care hospital and facility where more than 75% of all subjects, including staff and residents, have completed the first dose, the PCR testing frequency for staff will be adjusted starting two weeks later.

For long-term care hospitals, the PCR testing frequency will be eased from twice a week to once a week in level 2 areas such as the metropolitan area, and to once every two weeks in non-metropolitan level 1.5 areas. For long-term care facilities, regardless of region, the frequency will be eased from once a week to once every two weeks.

However, the government stated that if social distancing levels are raised, the testing frequency may be shortened again, and for unvaccinated individuals, at least once a week testing will be maintained for the time being to prevent the spread of infection.

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