Government Suspends Quarantine Pass Requirement for Academies, Reading Rooms, and Study Cafes

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[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] On the 4th, the government announced that "the application of the quarantine pass (vaccination certificate and negative test confirmation) to the facilities in question will be suspended until the main trial verdict" in response to the court's decision to suspend the enforcement of the quarantine pass applied to academies, reading rooms, and study cafes.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare stated in additional materials on the same day, "This is in response to the administrative court's decision to suspend the effect of the quarantine pass applied to the three types of facilities?academies, reading rooms, and study cafes?until the main lawsuit is concluded." The suspension of enforcement is a measure to temporarily block the execution or effect of an administrative disposition when there is a concern of irreparable damage caused by the disposition.

However, the Ministry maintained its previous position, stating, "Since unvaccinated individuals, who account for only 6.2% of the adult population, represent 30% of confirmed cases aged 12 and over and 53% of severe cases and deaths, it is necessary at this point to expand the application of the quarantine pass to protect the health of the unvaccinated and secure the capacity of the severe medical system." It added, "We will proceed with the main lawsuit promptly and consult with the Ministry of Justice to quickly decide whether to appeal the court's decision to suspend enforcement."

Earlier, the court put a brake on the mandatory application of the vaccine pass to educational facilities such as academies, judging that "it effectively restricts the rights of unvaccinated groups to access and use academies, reading rooms, etc." The court further stated, "Among the unvaccinated, those who use academies and reading rooms to prepare for advancement, employment, or qualification exams have their right to learn restricted, which directly infringes on their freedom of education and freedom of occupational choice." It also pointed out, "Considering that a considerable number of so-called breakthrough infections occur among vaccinated individuals, it cannot be said that unvaccinated persons pose a significantly higher risk of spreading COVID-19 to the extent that their use of facilities should be restricted."

Following the court's decision, unvaccinated adults can now use academies, reading rooms, and study cafes without a quarantine pass. With a hearing on the suspension of enforcement requested by active doctors opposing the quarantine pass scheduled for the 7th, the government may face a series of lawsuits regarding the application of the quarantine pass.

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