COVID-19 Managed Like Flu and Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease... Hospital Masks Remain Required

From the 31st of this month, COVID-19 will be managed at the same level as influenza (flu). COVID-19 testing and treatment costs will partially switch to paid services.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced on the 23rd that it has downgraded the infectious disease classification of COVID-19 from level 2 to level 4. Level 4 infectious diseases require "sample surveillance activities." Influenza (flu) and hand, foot, and mouth disease are classified as level 4. The KDCA explained, "The epidemic is showing signs of slowing down," adding, "Until mid-September, the epidemic is expected to remain stable with about 30,000 confirmed cases per day, and deaths and severe cases will be managed stably under the current response system." The weekly average daily new COVID-19 cases in the third week of August was 41,698, a decrease of about 16% from 49,893 the previous week. The reproduction number, which indicates how many people one infected person infects, also dropped below 1. A reproduction number above 1 indicates a spreading trend. The fatality rate has fallen to 0.02?0.04%, comparable to the influenza fatality rate of 0.03?0.07%.

On the 23rd, the screening clinic set up at the Yongsan-gu Public Health Center in Seoul showed a quiet scene as the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency announced that it would downgrade the COVID-19 infectious disease classification from level 2 to level 4 starting from the 31st. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Along with the downgrade to level 4, the KDCA will implement stage 2 of the COVID-19 crisis level adjustment roadmap. Protective measures for high-risk groups will be maintained for the time being to respond to the summer surge. The downgrade of the crisis level from "alert" to "caution" has also been postponed. The plan is to carefully review the epidemic situation. The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (Ministry of Health and Welfare) and the Central Disease Control Headquarters (KDCA) infectious disease disaster response system will also be maintained.

COVID-19 testing fees will be converted to paid services except for some cases. Priority polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for the elderly and other high-risk groups will remain free, but general public testing will become paid. Hospitalization and treatment costs will be supported only for severe cases. Some vulnerable groups will receive health insurance support. Additional purchases of oral antiviral treatments will be pursued in preparation for the winter epidemic. The KDCA plans to transition to the general medical system through health insurance coverage when moving to stage 3 of the crisis level adjustment roadmap.

Outpatient care will be handled by general medical institutions. Designation of outpatient medical institutions will be lifted, and management of home-treated patients will end. The 561 screening clinics will be maintained for the time being to support preemptive testing for high-risk groups and infection control in vulnerable facilities and medical institutions. Once the situation stabilizes, the operation of screening clinics will be terminated and public health center operations will return to normal.

To respond to the summer surge and protect high-risk groups, the mask-wearing mandate in medical institutions will remain in place. The timing for switching to recommendations will be decided after monitoring the quarantine situation and consulting experts. Preemptive testing for entrants to nursing hospitals and facilities will also be maintained. Preemptive testing will be conducted as needed for hospitalized patients, their caregivers, and staff in medical institutions.

Support for living expenses and paid leave, which were provided based on income (below 100% of median income) and workplace size (fewer than 30 employees) for those voluntarily isolating, will also end. Additionally, daily confirmed case counts will be discontinued, and the system will shift to sample surveillance focused on positive cases.

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