Authorities: "No Going to Work for Cohabitants During Home Treatment... Compensation to Be Expanded"

On the 30th, with 3,032 new COVID-19 cases reported, marking three consecutive days of over 3,000 cases, citizens waiting to be tested are lined up at a screening clinic set up at Songpa-gu Public Health Center in Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] As the government has decided to mandate home treatment for COVID-19 confirmed cases, it is expanding compensation measures considering that cohabitants must also quarantine together without being able to go to work or school.

Kim Ji-yeon, head of the Home Treatment Planning Team at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, stated during a COVID-19 briefing on the morning of the 30th, "Cohabitants must also be quarantined together and are prohibited from going out," adding, "We are reviewing plans to increase living support funds for those undergoing home treatment." Kim explained, "We are preparing measures to allow cohabitants to go out only in essential cases," and emphasized, "Since living together means being in a situation where the virus is present, the basic principle is a ban on going out."

When receiving home treatment, the confirmed patient is not allowed to go out except for visits to short-term outpatient clinics. Cohabitants are also prohibited from leaving the house except for essential reasons such as medical treatment or medicine delivery and receipt. Kim said, "It is difficult to include going to work as an essential reason for going out," and explained, "We are discussing additional support through living support funds considering the difficulties of not being able to go to work and other living aspects."

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters' "COVID-19 Home Treatment Guide," among those notified by health centers to isolate or be hospitalized due to COVID-19 confirmation or contact, those who have not received paid leave under the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act are provided living support funds based on the number of household members registered in the resident registration. The monthly amounts are ▲ 474,600 KRW for a single-person household ▲ 802,000 KRW for two persons ▲ 1,035,000 KRW for three persons ▲ 1,266,900 KRW for four persons ▲ 1,496,700 KRW for five or more persons. If the hospitalization or isolation period is less than 14 days, the payment is calculated on a pro-rata basis.

However, the health authorities currently explain that if cohabitants strongly refuse home treatment due to reasons such as going to work, they are directed to be admitted to a living treatment center. Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, said, "It is possible to enforce (home treatment) forcibly," but added, "If they absolutely cannot accept home treatment due to reasons like going to work, they are transferred to a living treatment center." He explained, "One difficulty is that the home treatment rate has not grown well beyond 40% of all patients due to such issues," and added, "We are trying to activate it through expanding living support and other financial assistance." The authorities plan to coordinate with the Ministry of Education and local education offices to ensure that cohabiting students are not marked absent during the quarantine period.

If a confirmed patient goes out to visit a short-term outpatient clinic due to worsening symptoms, they must wear protective gear. Son Young-rae said, "They must wear a set of four items: a KF94 mask, face shield, disposable gloves, and disposable waterproof gown," and explained, "Medical personnel are recommended to wear protective gear at this level rather than 'Level D,' so this level is also recommended for movement during home treatment."

The authorities consider that if the confirmed patient wears such protective gear, even using an elevator, which is a high-risk enclosed space for infection, poses a low risk, and therefore no separate quarantine measures will be taken. Son said, "Even if contact occurs during movement, we will not designate contacts as passive monitors or self-quarantined," and explained, "Similarly, disinfection of movement routes is not deemed necessary if the four-piece protective gear is worn during movement."

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