'Liberation' After 3 Years and 4 Months... Escaping the 'Corona Tunnel'

COVID-19 Crisis Alert Downgraded from Severe to Caution
Mask Recommendation Extended to Local Clinics and Pharmacies
Not Over Yet... "Authorities Maintain Vigilance"

All quarantine regulations were lifted about 3 years and 4 months after the first COVID-19 infection case was reported in South Korea. The mandatory isolation for COVID-19 confirmed cases was also lifted, and masks are now only required to be worn in some medical institutions at the hospital level or higher.

Starting from midnight on the 1st, the government downgraded the COVID-19 crisis alert level from 'Severe' to 'Caution.' As a result, the mandatory 7-day isolation for confirmed COVID-19 cases was adjusted to a 5-day isolation 'recommendation.' However, confirmed cases may maintain isolation measures based on 'voluntary consent.'

Isolation obligations imposed by health authorities have also been removed in medical institutions and facilities vulnerable to infection. However, a 7-day isolation recommendation still applies to hospitalized patients or residents of infection-vulnerable facilities.

The government decided to lower the COVID-19 crisis alert level from "Severe" to "Warning" starting from the 1st and adjust the mandatory 7-day quarantine for confirmed cases to a recommended 5-day quarantine.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Mask-wearing requirements in clinics and pharmacies have been changed to full recommendations instead of mandatory. However, mask-wearing obligations will be maintained for the time being in medical institutions at the hospital level or higher and in residential infection-vulnerable facilities.

Clinics, commonly called 'dongnae byeongwon' (local clinics), cannot display the sign 'byeongwon' (hospital), so masks only need to be worn in medical institutions that are labeled as hospitals.

Additionally, the recommendation for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing on the third day after entry for overseas arrivals has been lifted.

True 'With COVID-19' after 3 years and 4 months

With this, most of the quarantine measures introduced after the first COVID-19 infection case in South Korea have been lifted after about 3 years and 4 months.

Previously, the government announced the 'With COVID-19 (gradual recovery of daily life)' implementation plan on November 1, 2021, 249 days after the start of COVID-19 vaccination.

At that time, only vaccinated individuals were allowed to gather in private groups at multi-use facilities such as restaurants and cafes, among other restrictions. Mask-wearing obligations in public facilities, which had the greatest impact on daily life, continued.

Long lines at temporary screening clinics commonly seen during the pandemic [Image source=Yonhap News]

However, from the 1st, most major quarantine measures have shifted from 'mandatory' to 'voluntary management,' marking the true beginning of COVID-19 becoming endemic.

Nevertheless, health authorities emphasized that the downgrade of the COVID-19 crisis alert level does not mean the 'end of COVID-19.' Im Suk-young, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters Situation Management Team, stated at the regular COVID-19 briefing the day before, "The authorities will continue to remain vigilant and maintain readiness for possible future outbreaks and protection of high-risk groups."

Additionally, to encourage voluntary isolation of infected individuals and the establishment of a 'stay home when sick' culture in workplaces, policies supporting living expenses and paid leave will be maintained for the time being. Im explained, "We will ensure that confirmed workers can follow voluntary isolation recommendations" and "actively encourage the use of agreed paid or unpaid leave or annual leave within workplaces."

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