Yoon: "Crisis Alert Downgraded from Severe to Caution... Glad to Return to Normal Life" (Update)

Yoon Declares COVID-19 Crisis Alert Level Change from 'Severe' to 'Caution' at Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters
Quarantine Obligation, Post-Entry PCR Testing, and Mask Mandate Outside Hospitals Lifted

President Yoon Suk-yeol declared the COVID-19 endemic on the 11th. It has been 3 years and 4 months since the first confirmed case on January 20, 2020, and most COVID-19 prevention measures have been lifted, allowing not only the daily lives of the people but also medical sites, which had been operating under separate systems, to largely return to normal.

On the morning of the same day, President Yoon presided over a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters for COVID-19 at the Yongsan Presidential Office building, stating, "Today, we have adjusted the COVID-19 crisis alert level from 'serious' to 'caution' and decided to fully implement this from June," effectively declaring the end of COVID-19. He directly mentioned the lifting of COVID-19 related regulations, including ▲the end of the 7-day mandatory isolation for confirmed cases (changing to a 5-day recommendation), ▲lifting the recommendation for PCR testing after entry, and ▲lifting the indoor mask-wearing mandate except in hospitals with inpatient rooms. COVID-19 has now entered the endemic, or persistent infectious disease, phase.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is delivering opening remarks at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting on COVID-19 held on the 11th at the Yongsan Presidential Office building in Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

On this day, President Yoon expressed his gratitude to doctors, nurses, and nursing assistants who dedicated themselves to overcoming COVID-19. He said, "I have visited hospitals responsible for COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment several times, and the medical staff worked very hard," emphasizing, "Thanks to their collaboration, we were able to overcome the pandemic. I express my gratitude on behalf of the people."

He also acknowledged those involved in vaccine and therapeutic research. President Yoon added, "I thank the healthcare industry workers, local government officials, and health authorities who devoted efforts to the research, development, and production of vaccines and therapeutics." He continued by expressing appreciation to the public for their active cooperation with prevention measures. President Yoon said, "Above all, I deeply thank our citizens who actively cooperated with the prevention measures," and added, "I am pleased that after 3 years and 4 months, the people have regained their daily lives."

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