Starting Tomorrow, Only Individuals Aged 60 and Above and Immunocompromised Will Be Classified as Home Treatment Intensive Care Group

Patients in their 50s with underlying conditions classified as general management group

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] As the spread of COVID-19 continues, health authorities have decided to classify 50s patients with underlying conditions who test positive for COVID-19 as general management group for home treatment starting from the 16th, and only those aged 60 and above and immunocompromised individuals will be managed as the intensive management group.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) announced at a regular briefing on the 15th, "We have adjusted the criteria for the intensive management group to change 50s patients with underlying conditions to the general management group, allowing them to receive treatment at their usual hospitals or clinics."

As of that day, the total number of home treatment patients was 1.61 million, with the intensive management group reaching 246,000. This number is close to the maximum manageable number of 280,000 announced by the CDSCH.

Until now, the government classified those aged 60 and above, 50s patients with underlying conditions, and immunocompromised individuals as the "intensive management group," applying a home treatment system that provides health monitoring twice a day. Immunocompromised individuals other than those aged 60 and above remain in the intensive management group. The CDSCH explained, "Considering the low severity rate of Omicron and the fact that the fatality rate of confirmed cases under 50 is lower than that of those aged 60 and above, as well as the expansion of institutions prescribing oral antiviral treatments and the possibility of managing health status through phone consultations and prescriptions, this measure was taken."

Even if classified as the general management group, if eligible for oral antiviral treatment, patients can receive prescriptions at respiratory-specialized clinics or local hospitals and clinics designated as respiratory treatment institutions. The prescription targets for the oral antiviral drug Paxlovid include those aged 60 and above, 40s to 50s patients with underlying conditions, and immunocompromised individuals.

Furthermore, for confirmed cases aged 60 and above in the intensive management group, health monitoring will be conducted first by prioritizing assignment to management medical institutions immediately upon confirmation notification, with basic investigations to follow. Also, among the intensive management group, those wishing to receive treatment at their usual hospitals or clinics will be allowed to be assigned to the general management group.

The government plans to notify local governments and medical institutions of the changes in home treatment criteria and implement them starting from the 16th.

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