From Today, Only One COVID Test for 'Overseas Entrants'... Closure of Community Treatment Centers

Quarantine Exemption for Children Under 12 Entering with Family
Integration with Nationwide Temporary Screening Clinics and Public Health Centers

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The number of COVID-19 tests required for domestic arrivals, including overseas travelers, will be reduced from two to one. The nationwide residential treatment centers that managed isolation and treatment for asymptomatic and mild COVID-19 patients will also cease operations.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on the 1st, from this day forward, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test conducted on the first day of domestic entry will be relaxed to be done "within 3 days after entry." The rapid antigen test (RAT), which was previously required on days 6 to 7 after entry, will be changed to a self-administered rapid antigen test recommendation.

Previously, a PCR test was mandatory on day 1 after entry, and a RAT was mandatory on days 6 to 7. However, going forward, only one PCR test within 3 days is required, and the RAT on days 6 to 7 will be recommended rather than mandatory.

Along with this, the age range of minors exempt from quarantine when entering the country accompanied by a vaccinated guardian will be expanded from under 6 years old to under 12 years old starting from this day.

The health authorities also considered that the third dose vaccination for those aged 12 to 17 is currently recommended only for high-risk groups such as immunocompromised individuals and those with underlying conditions according to domestic vaccination guidelines. Therefore, from this day forward, individuals in this age group will be recognized as "fully vaccinated" 14 days after their second dose.

The COVID-19 residential treatment centers will close all but one designated by the Central Accident Response Headquarters for foreigners entering from overseas. The government has been gradually reducing the operation of residential treatment centers since the introduction of home treatment systems for confirmed cases after the Omicron surge, and recently, confirmed patients have been able to receive face-to-face treatment at local clinics and hospitals.

As of the previous day, there are a total of 6,447 outpatient clinics capable of face-to-face treatment for confirmed cases. The government plans to continue increasing the number of outpatient clinics to improve the convenience of face-to-face treatment.

In addition, instead of operating residential treatment centers, emergency care services, isolation rooms within separate facilities, and bed allocation will be appropriately provided according to patient situations for vulnerable housing groups such as residents of jjokbangchon (small rooms) and gosiwon (boarding houses). Along with this, a "fast track" system will be activated to enable high-risk groups such as those aged 60 and over, immunocompromised individuals, and residents of infection-vulnerable facilities to receive testing, treatment, and oral antiviral prescriptions within one day.

All temporary screening clinics nationwide also ceased operations as of the previous day. The number of temporary screening clinics, which once operated 202 locations, has gradually decreased with the decline in confirmed cases, leaving only 78 as of the previous day. From the 1st, these will be integrated and operated together with public health center screening clinics.

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