Government Expands Exemptions for Quarantine Pass... 'Koov' App and Others to Issue Certificates Starting from the 24th

Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The quarantine authorities are expanding the scope of medical exemptions related to the vaccination certificate and negative test confirmation system (quarantine pass). However, pregnant women were again excluded from the exemption list this time.

On the afternoon of the 19th, the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) announced, "We are expanding the scope of quarantine pass exemptions." With this measure, those eligible for exemption certificates are individuals who showed suspected adverse reactions after COVID-19 vaccination but were judged to have insufficient causality evidence in damage compensation applications or who received inpatient treatment.

Those who have been judged by local governments to have insufficient causality evidence can receive exemption certificates without any separate procedures or doctor's diagnosis. If suspected adverse reaction symptoms appeared after vaccination and inpatient treatment was received within 6 weeks post-vaccination, the individual must register as an exempt person at a public health center with a doctor's diagnosis. In this case, the exemption is recognized regardless of the type of suspected adverse reaction symptoms or whether the adverse reaction was reported.

The original exemption categories included ▲those released from isolation after COVID-19 confirmation ▲people who experienced severe adverse reactions after the first dose leading to postponement or prohibition of the second dose ▲those requiring vaccination delay due to immunodeficiency, immunosuppressant, or anticancer drug administration ▲vaccination contraindication subjects, and two cases were added this time. The newly exempted population is expected to be around 12,000 to 17,000 people.

However, a CDCH official emphasized, "Recognition of the quarantine pass exemption scope does not imply causality between vaccination and adverse reactions, nor the necessity of damage compensation or vaccination contraindication." The purpose of this measure is to minimize inconvenience arising from those who tried to get vaccinated during the phased return to normal life but were inevitably unable to complete it.

They added, "Even if you receive a quarantine pass exemption certificate through this measure, it does not mean you fall under vaccination contraindications or exemptions," and urged, "We ask those who have not completed vaccination to promptly complete it."

The new quarantine pass exemption subjects can receive exemption certificates starting from the 24th. There is no separate expiration date on the exemption certificates.

If the authorities have judged insufficient causality evidence, you can receive an electronic exemption certificate by updating or issuing vaccination records on electronic entry platforms such as the COOV app, Kakao, or Naver. By presenting an ID at public health centers, you can receive a paper exemption certificate.

Meanwhile, pregnant women were again not included in the quarantine pass exemption list this time. The quarantine authorities explained, "Vaccination is recommended because risk cases have been reported among unvaccinated pregnant women after COVID-19 confirmation."

Data provided by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency

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