Jeonnam Province Strengthens 'Proactive Response' Amid Gradual Return to Normal Life

Administrative Order for Weekly Testing of Workers at Long-Term Care Hospitals and Others

[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam Province issued an administrative order on the 16th to strengthen proactive testing in vulnerable sectors and include certain quarantine compliance measures to block the spread of infection following the phased recovery of daily life.

According to this order, operators, workers, and users of nursing hospitals and facilities, psychiatric hospitals and facilities, and elderly day and night care centers must undergo testing once a week regardless of vaccination status.

Operators, workers, and users of workplaces employing foreigners, coastal fishing vessels with permits, and job placement agencies must continue to undergo testing once every two weeks as before.

When holding events or gatherings, a quarantine manager must be designated to verify vaccination completion status, and senior centers must be operated only with fully vaccinated individuals, with eating and drinking prohibited.

Fully vaccinated individuals refer to those who have actually completed vaccination, PCR-negative unvaccinated persons (within 48 hours), those under 18 years old, COVID-19 recovered patients, and those unable to be vaccinated due to medical reasons.

The daily average number of confirmed cases in the Jeonnam region surged from 14 on October 10 to 21 after the phased recovery of daily life.

Several risk factors remain, including decreased immunity among the elderly and high-risk groups several months after vaccination, and non-compliance with quarantine rules due to lowered vigilance, making the situation unsafe.

Kang Young-gu, Director of the Health and Welfare Bureau of Jeonnam Province, said, “To achieve a full recovery of daily life, active quarantine practices regardless of vaccination status are necessary,” adding, “We hope everyone strictly follows quarantine rules such as wearing masks anytime and anywhere, ventilating at least three times a day, getting PCR tests when visiting high-risk areas, and actively participates in vaccination and booster shots to secure immunity.”

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