Chuseok After 3 Years Without 'Social Distancing'... Is There No Risk of a Resurgence?

No Restrictions on Family Gatherings and Visits, Indoor Eating Allowed on Buses and Trains
Government Significantly Eases Quarantine Guidelines... "No Major Increase in Spread Expected"

On September 15 last year, ahead of the Chuseok holiday, a temporary COVID-19 screening clinic was operating at the Yongin Rest Area on the Yeongdong Expressway in Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, heading towards Incheon. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

This Chuseok holiday, there will be no restrictions on family gatherings and visits, and indoor eating at highway rest stops and on buses and trains will be allowed, marking a significant relaxation of COVID-19 related quarantine guidelines. Consequently, concerns have been raised that the declining trend of the COVID-19 resurgence might reverse or that another resurgence could be brought forward to early winter. However, the government expects that the increased travel during the holiday will not significantly impact the epidemic situation and plans to focus on managing high-risk groups.

According to the quarantine authorities on the 1st, tolls on all vehicles on nationwide highways will be waived during the Chuseok holiday period from the 9th to the 12th. Highway tolls have been waived during holiday periods since 2017, but since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, tolls were reinstated from Chuseok 2020 to reduce travel volume. Eating in multi-use facilities and on public transportation has only been permitted since the end of April this year, making it possible during the holiday period for the first time in two years.

The mandatory COVID-19 test before entry for overseas arrivals will be completely lifted from the 3rd, before the Chuseok holiday. Although it was initially expected to be abolished after the holiday considering the increase in arrivals, the government decided to move it forward to before the holiday to accommodate the demand and convenience of Korean nationals returning during the holiday. The PCR test on day 1 after entry will be maintained, and face-to-face visits at nursing hospitals and facilities will be restricted to non-contact methods, but virtually all other quarantine measures will be lifted.

Criticism has been raised that the quarantine authorities have issued overly relaxed guidelines despite the start of the Chuseok holiday, which inevitably involves large-scale movement and contact, just as the resurgence is turning into a decline. Moreover, with the ongoing spread of the highly transmissible BA.5 variant and the waning immunity from vaccination and natural infection among the general public, a certain level of resurgence after the holiday is inevitable. Jeong Ki-seok, Chair of the National Infectious Disease Crisis Response Advisory Committee (Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters COVID-19 Special Response Team), recently stated, "After the Chuseok holiday, confirmed cases may increase, with up to 20,000 high-risk patients per day," urging the expansion of medical institutions and oral antiviral treatments to respond to high-risk groups.

The government assessed that although some resurgence is expected, the scale of the resurgence will not be large since the current resurgence is already declining. Baek Kyung-ran, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, said the day before, "Infections may increase due to increased travel during the holiday," but added, "Since we are past the peak period and have been on a declining trend since last week, the epidemic situation is not expected to worsen significantly."

Instead of social distancing, the government plans to minimize gaps in the general medical system by keeping about 5,300 one-stop clinics at local hospitals and clinics open during the holiday, and allowing oral antiviral treatments to be purchased at nearby duty pharmacies. While free PCR testing at over 600 screening clinics nationwide will be limited to high-risk groups and facility workers, anyone can receive free PCR testing at temporary screening clinics set up at nine rest stops during the holiday period.

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