"Gradual Return to Normal Life Starting This Summer"... Exemption from July Gathering Ban for Fully Vaccinated (Comprehensive)

Minister Kwon Deok-cheol: "Now It's Time to Focus on Vaccinations"
Easing Quarantine Rules for Vaccinated Individuals in 3 Phases in July and October

Concerns About Increased Infection Risk
Authorities: "Proven Preventive Effect... Harmonized with Vaccination Progress"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] The government announced support measures for daily recovery targeting vaccinated individuals to improve COVID-19 vaccination rates. The main point is to ease quarantine rules for vaccinated people in three phases, based on June, July, and October. Even those who have only completed the first dose of the vaccine will be excluded from the headcount limit for immediate family gatherings, allowing up to 10 immediate family members to meet. From July, the outdoor mask-wearing mandate will be lifted.

Kwon Deok-cheol, the first head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, said at the regular briefing on the 26th, "As vaccinations for the elderly progress, the proportion of severe COVID-19 cases and deaths is decreasing, clearly proving the effectiveness of vaccination," adding, "Based on this vaccination effect, we intend to gradually adjust quarantine rules to restore daily life that suffered due to COVID-19 and provide incentives for vaccination."

The adjustment of quarantine rules will be implemented in three stages. It will be applied from the first week of July when the first dose for high-risk groups such as those aged 60 and over is completed, but some measures will be eased from June, focusing on elderly vaccination progressing according to the first half vaccination plan. Kwon said, "Once vaccinations for 13 million people, including the elderly, are completed by the end of June, the second phase of easing quarantine measures will be implemented from July," and explained, "Since 25% of the entire population will be vaccinated, we will reorganize the current social distancing system and apply a new social distancing system that minimizes restrictions on livelihood facilities based on the principles of autonomy and responsibility."

On the morning of the 3rd, a medical worker is aliquoting the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at the Yongsan-gu Public Health Center in Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

'Vaccine Incentives' for First Dose Recipients from June... Government Cites 'Infection Prevention Effect'

Starting next month, those who have received only the first dose will be excluded from the headcount limit for immediate family gatherings. Currently, immediate family gatherings are allowed up to 8 people, but if two grandparents are vaccinated, the number expands to 10. Additionally, programs involving first dose recipients and fully vaccinated individuals will be encouraged to operate in elderly welfare facilities such as welfare centers and senior citizen centers, which had been suspended. Especially, programs where mask-wearing is possible, such as art, computer, and yoga classes, are actively recommended.

Kwon said, "Scientific research results from both domestic and international sources show that even just the first dose provides 90% infection prevention effect, 100% death prevention effect, and a 45% reduction in family transmission," adding, "Based on these research results, we plan to proceed with the plan on the premise of achieving the goal of vaccinating 13 million people in the first half of the year."

Preemptive testing and quarantine measures for vulnerable facilities will also be eased. Fully vaccinated individuals will be exempt from periodic preemptive testing required for workers in vulnerable facilities such as nursing hospitals and elderly care facilities. Furthermore, face-to-face visits will be allowed if either the visitor or the resident in nursing hospitals and elderly care facilities has completed vaccination.

During this period, various incentives will be provided to encourage vaccination participation for both first dose recipients and fully vaccinated individuals. Notable measures include discounts or waivers of admission and usage fees at major public facilities, as well as priority access. Discounts for temple stays, special cultural heritage viewing events at palaces, and additional points, gift certificates, and prize events for vaccinated participants in the worker vacation support project are also planned.

Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, emphasized, "As part of monetary incentives, measures such as discounts and waivers of usage fees have been proposed," adding, "Each ministry will continue to develop additional incentives beyond those announced today to provide more incentives starting from July."

On the 14th, citizens wearing masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are enjoying the roses at the 'Seoul Rose Festival' held around Jungnangcheon in Jungnang-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

‘No Masks Outdoors’ from July, Comprehensive Daily Recovery in October

From July, when 25% of the entire population completes the first dose, the second phase of quarantine adjustment will be applied, and after late September, when over 70% complete the first dose, the third phase will be implemented. The second phase, applied in July, mainly focuses on easing restrictions on gatherings for fully vaccinated individuals. Accordingly, fully vaccinated people will be able to freely participate in small gatherings as well as family gatherings during the Chuseok holiday.

Religious activities will also be expanded from July. First dose recipients and fully vaccinated individuals will be excluded from the participation limits for in-person religious activities such as regular worship services, masses, Buddhist ceremonies, and memorial services. Additionally, choirs or small groups composed only of fully vaccinated members will be allowed to operate.

Regarding the use of multi-use facilities such as restaurants and cafes, first dose recipients will be excluded from headcount limits when using outdoor multi-use facilities. Fully vaccinated individuals will be excluded from headcount limits for both outdoor and indoor multi-use facilities. Most notably, from July, even those with only the first dose will no longer be required to wear masks outdoors, allowing free activities without masks in parks, hiking trails, and other outdoor areas.

The government plans to comprehensively review social distancing quarantine rules after late September, considering vaccination rates and quarantine situations. Broadly, except for special cases such as hospitals and nursing facilities, discussions will focus on restoring pre-COVID-19 daily life regarding indoor and outdoor distancing. Through this, the government intends to consider easing indoor mask mandates after December.

Meanwhile, concerns have been raised that the government's significant expansion of vaccination incentives might increase the risk of COVID-19 infection again. In response, Son said, "Basically, the government believes that easing quarantine measures and the reduction of quarantine risks due to vaccination progress should be balanced," adding, "Therefore, we are promoting the easing of quarantine measures in three distinct stages according to vaccination progress, and the contents of each stage are reviewed focusing on areas where risks decrease as vaccination effects appear in target groups." He added, "The easing of quarantine measures will be continuously implemented in line with the progress of vaccination."

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