[Q&A] From Today, Contact Visits at Nursing Hospitals... Is It Possible Without Vaccination?

Contact Visits Allowed Regardless of Vaccination Status
Outings and Overnight Stays Allowed for Confirmed Cases Vaccinated with 4th Dose or 2nd Dose

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] As the resurgence of COVID-19 continues to stabilize, from the 4th, in-person contact visits will be allowed at nursing hospitals and care facilities. The health authorities have also decided to fully permit outings and overnight stays, which had previously been allowed only for essential outpatient treatments, provided certain conditions are met.

What is the basis for allowing in-person contact visits?

The health authorities stated that they considered the reduction in confirmed cases, severe illness, and fatality rates within infection-vulnerable facilities, as well as the high rate of the fourth vaccination dose. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the scale of cluster infections in infection-vulnerable facilities decreased from 3,015 cases in the fourth week of August to 1,075 cases in the second week of last month. The severe illness rate among confirmed cases aged 60 and over dropped from 5.32% in January this year to 0.42% in August, and the fatality rate decreased from 3.10% to 0.23% during the same period, falling to less than one-tenth. As of midnight on the 28th of last month, the fourth dose vaccination rate in nursing hospitals and facilities, excluding previously confirmed COVID-19 cases, was 90.3%, and 90.7% in mental health facilities.

Were contact visits continuously suspended until now?

They were temporarily allowed but then suspended again. Before the start of the sixth wave triggered by BA.5 this summer, the government lifted restrictions on in-person contact visits and allowed outings and overnight stays on June 20. However, as the resurgence began, stricter quarantine measures were reinstated from July 25, permitting only non-contact in-person visits separated by partitions. Outings and overnight stays were allowed only for essential outpatient treatments.

Can visitors who are unvaccinated still visit?

Yes. There are no vaccination requirements for either visitors or residents for in-person contact visits. However, visitors must make a prior reservation and test negative using a self-test kit before the visit. It is the visitor’s responsibility to bring the self-test kit. Eating or drinking during visits is prohibited. Hospitals and facilities must follow ventilation protocols before and after in-person contact visits.

Are outings and overnight stays also allowed for unvaccinated individuals?

No. Outings and overnight stays for residents are conditionally allowed based on vaccination status. Those who have received at least two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and have a history of infection, or those who have received the fourth dose, may go on outings or overnight stays regardless of outpatient treatment status. Upon return, they must undergo a self-test using a test kit.

Are there restrictions on the resumed external programs?

There are no restrictions on residents, but instructors entering the facility must be vaccinated against COVID-19. Instructors conducting external programs must have received the third dose or have completed two doses and have a history of infection to be allowed to lead programs within the facility.

Will proactive testing for nursing hospital and facility staff continue?

Proactive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing conducted once a week for staff at infection-vulnerable facilities will continue as before. The health authorities stated that they will maintain the proactive testing policy while monitoring COVID-19 trends and consulting with field experts and professionals.

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