Health Authorities Consider Quarantine Obligation Lift in Late May Based on Prevention Status and Medical System

Decrease trend continues, COVID-19 treatment should be handled by general medical system
6,388 COVID-19 outpatient clinics nationwide... "Sufficient at current level"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] The quarantine authorities cited the quarantine situation and the preparedness of the medical system as conditions for lifting the mandatory COVID-19 isolation measures scheduled for late May.

On the 2nd, Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, said, "The lifting of isolation will be determined by two factors." The authorities announced on the 15th of last month the post-Omicron response plan, downgraded COVID-19 to a level 2 infectious disease, and stated that after a four-week transition period, the mandatory isolation measures would be lifted around May 23.

The first condition presented by the quarantine authorities is the quarantine situation. The primary consideration is whether the downward trend in new confirmed cases, critically ill patients, and deaths is progressing steadily.

As the second factor, Son mentioned the preparedness of the medical system. When the isolation of COVID-19 patients changes from mandatory to recommended, related medical care must be handled by the usual medical system, such as local clinics. Son said, "How well these aspects are prepared and settled in the field is an important factor," adding, "We are continuing the transition while focusing on these two factors."

The quarantine authorities stated that the transition of the medical system is currently proceeding smoothly. They said that outpatient clinics operating nationwide can adequately respond to internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, and obstetrics and gynecology treatments for COVID-19 confirmed patients.

On this day, regarding the medical response system, Son responded to the criticism that "the number of prepared outpatient clinics currently accounts for only about 8% of all medical institutions" by saying, "About 6,388 outpatient clinics nationwide have been designated and are conducting face-to-face treatment, and this number is sufficient to handle the treatment of confirmed cases occurring now without major problems." He also added, "Although there are more than 20,000 private clinics, this includes places that do not provide essential medical services, such as cosmetic surgery clinics, so it is unnecessary to use the total number of private clinics as the denominator."

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