Toll-Free Expressways During Chuseok Holiday... PCR Testing at 9 Rest Areas (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] The government has decided to abolish the mandatory submission of a negative COVID-19 test certificate before entry starting from the 3rd of next month. It also announced the first quarantine measures for the holiday season after the lifting of social distancing.

Lee Ki-il, the 1st Chief Coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Vice Minister of Health and Welfare), stated in his opening remarks at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on the 31st, "From 0:00 on September 3, all domestic and foreign nationals arriving in the country by flights or ships will no longer be required to submit a negative PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test certificate."

Currently, overseas entrants must submit a negative PCR test certificate taken within 48 hours before entry or a negative professional rapid antigen test (RAT) certificate taken within 24 hours. The travel and tourism industries have pointed out the burden of testing costs overseas before entry and the low effectiveness due to the short interval between pre- and post-entry tests. Baek Kyung-ran, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, explained, "Recently, issues have been raised regarding the effectiveness of pre-entry testing abroad and difficulties faced by our nationals staying overseas when testing positive. Considering the protection of nationals returning during the Chuseok holiday, it was decided to implement this before Chuseok."

According to the government's improved testing policy, mandatory testing before entry will no longer be required from the 3rd of next month, but PCR testing within one day after entry will be maintained. Authorities recommend quarantine until the PCR results after entry are confirmed. The Chief Coordinator explained, "Please understand that this is the minimum measure to block overseas variants."

The government also announced quarantine measures for the Chuseok holiday. First, it is considering waiving toll fees for all vehicles using nationwide expressways during the four-day Chuseok holiday. Family gatherings and visits will be freely allowed without restrictions on the number of people, and eating will be permitted indoors at rest areas, buses, and trains. To manage quarantine, the government will deploy an additional 1,900 personnel at rest areas and drowsiness shelters and 140 personnel at airports.

Temporary screening clinics will be set up at expressway rest areas in the Gyeonggi, Gyeongnam, and Jeonnam regions. Anyone, even those not in high-risk groups, will be able to receive free PCR tests there. The nine locations include rest areas in Anseong, Icheon, Hwaseong, and Yongin in Gyeonggi; Baekyangsa, Hampyeongcheonji, Boseong Green Tea, and Seomjingang rest areas in Jeonnam; and Tongdosa rest area in Gyeongnam.

Additionally, the government will operate duty pharmacies near one-stop treatment centers during the holiday to facilitate smooth prescriptions of oral antiviral medications. If there are insufficient duty pharmacies nearby, local public health centers will be utilized to enable medicine purchases. The COVID-19 one-stop treatment centers operating during the holiday will number 1,585 on the 9th, 643 on the 10th, 830 on the 11th, and 2,315 on the 12th of next month. To respond to demand for special treatment beds such as pediatric and maternity beds, hospitals with special beds will be designated and operated on a daily basis.

The Chief Coordinator said, "This Chuseok is the first holiday since the outbreak of COVID-19 without social distancing," and added, "The government will do its utmost to ensure a peaceful and safe holiday for the people through quarantine and medical response."

The improved vaccine effective against BA.5, which accounts for over 90% of recent COVID-19 infections, is expected to be introduced in the fourth quarter of this year. The Chief Coordinator explained, "Priority will be given to high-risk groups, but adults aged 18 and over who have completed at least two doses can also receive the vaccination."

‘Skycovione,’ the first domestically developed COVID-19 vaccine by SK Bioscience, will begin vaccinations next month. Pre-registration starts on the 1st, same-day and walk-in vaccinations begin on the 5th, and scheduled vaccinations start on the 13th. The Chief Coordinator said, "The Skycovione vaccine has 2.9 times higher neutralizing antibody levels compared to existing vaccines, and most adverse reactions are mild," and recommended, "Adults aged 18 and over who have not yet been vaccinated are encouraged to receive the domestic vaccine."

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