Countries Lifting Quarantine Measures... Various Approaches to 'With Corona'

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] As countries such as Denmark and Norway are easing quarantine measures, it has been pointed out that each country has a different approach to living with COVID-19, so-called 'With Corona.'

The Washington Post (WP) reported on the 5th (local time), "Currently, most countries including the United States and Denmark are shortening the self-quarantine period for confirmed cases, but some are planning to abolish it entirely."

The UK plans to eliminate the self-quarantine obligation for confirmed cases starting at the end of next month. The quarantine-related law expires on March 24, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated, "As COVID-19 becomes endemic, legal obligations should be changed to recommendations and guidelines," indicating no intention to extend the law.

Spain will also remove quarantine restrictions for asymptomatic infected individuals starting this spring. A Spanish Ministry of Health official told WP, "Most asymptomatic people are unaware of their infection," adding, "It is unfair that only some who voluntarily get tested are penalized."

The criteria for assessing the severity of COVID-19 are also diversifying. Previously, the level of quarantine restrictions was decided based on the total number of confirmed cases, but now it is determined according to each country's environment.

Instead of tallying the total number of confirmed cases, Spain is developing a system that estimates cases based on statistically significant samples. For example, eight health centers and three hospitals in Madrid that conduct COVID-19 tests will be selected as representative samples of the entire city.

Spanish health authorities said, "We will no longer count confirmed cases one by one," explaining, "As testing capacity weakens due to variants, official figures are being distorted," and added, "The new system will enhance understanding of virus spread."

There are also calls to prioritize genetic sequencing of severe patients. A European expert said, "It is believed that clues to the emergence of potentially threatening variants in the entire population can be found."

The approach to responding to COVID-19 is also narrowing from the entire population to vulnerable groups susceptible to infection. The UK health authorities recently stated in a draft policy report, "To live with COVID-19, the approach will shift from a universal one to focusing on protecting vulnerable groups."

Accordingly, the UK government is considering ending free antigen tests currently provided to the entire population. Prime Minister Johnson said, "In the future, free testing will be provided only in very important cases."

Denmark, which will lift all quarantine measures on the 10th, plans to maintain some measures to protect vulnerable groups. Mandatory mask-wearing for residents and staff of nursing facilities is a representative example.

WP explained, "As Denmark and Israel, which have started the fourth dose, began booster vaccinations with vulnerable groups first, future quarantine measures will focus on high-risk groups such as the elderly."

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