KMA Issues Public Advisory for COVID-19 Resurgence... "Follow Prevention Rules and High-Risk Groups Should Get 4th Dose"

If Symptoms Appear, Seek Medical Consultation at Nearby Facilities
Manage Indoor Air Quality with Regular Ventilation
"Necessary Compared to Manageable Level of Medical Infrastructure"

On the 13th, the COVID-19 testing center at Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 was crowded with overseas arrivals. The Central Disease Control Headquarters of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency announced that as of midnight, the number of new confirmed cases was 40,266, including 398 imported cases. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] As the resurgence of COVID-19 is becoming full-scale, the Korean Medical Association's COVID-19 Countermeasures Expert Committee recommended on the 13th safety guidelines for the public, including the 4th vaccine dose for high-risk groups, rapid diagnosis, treatment, and prescription.

The Medical Association first advised caution for infections among high-risk patients with underlying conditions and the elderly, recommending the 4th vaccine dose. If there were side effects from previous vaccinations, it is possible to receive a vaccine with relatively fewer side effects after consulting medical staff. If COVID-19 infection symptoms appear, early testing and treatment should be sought by visiting a nearby medical institution for consultation and examination, including receiving oral antiviral prescriptions that meet the criteria.

Additionally, they urged adherence to personal quarantine guidelines such as avoiding unnecessary contact, wearing masks, washing hands, and regularly ventilating enclosed spaces as part of daily preventive measures. If infected with COVID-19, a 7-day self-quarantine should be observed, and after recovery, wearing a mask and exercising caution for 3 days to minimize virus transmission was also recommended.

The Medical Association expressed concern, stating, "Due to mutations of the COVID-19 virus (such as BA.5), transmissibility has increased, and with more social activities during the summer, the re-spread of COVID-19 infections has begun. Public vigilance has significantly dulled, leading to inadequate testing or reliance on home self-test kits to determine infection status, so the actual number of infected individuals may be higher."

They added, "Considering various domestic factors such as fatigue from prolonged social distancing, reduced vaccine effectiveness in preventing infection, and antibody decline over time after the Omicron surge, the possibility of COVID-19 re-spread approaching us more rapidly is high. It is necessary to minimize the possibility of re-spread and prepare for COVID-19 at a level that our country's medical infrastructure can handle," emphasizing the need for preparedness.

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