'Flu' Grade, COVID-19... Testing Fees Up to 50,000 Won Starting Tomorrow

Transition to Level 4 Infectious Disease... 'Alert' Stage Maintained
Increased Testing Costs and End of Living Support and Paid Leave Benefits

From the 31st, COVID-19 will be reclassified as a Level 4 infectious disease, the same category as influenza (flu). This change follows the implementation of Step 2 measures in the crisis level adjustment roadmap, due to a significant decrease in the fatality rate of COVID-19 and a slowdown in its spread.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on the 30th, from 0:00 on the 31st, COVID-19 will be downgraded to Level 4, the lowest level among the legal infectious disease classifications (Levels 1 to 4). However, the COVID-19 crisis level will remain at 'Alert.'

First, with the downgrade of the legal infectious disease classification, daily reporting and aggregation of confirmed cases will be discontinued. Instead, 527 positive case monitoring institutions will be designated to monitor weekly trends of occurrences within institutions (by region, age, and gender) and the patterns of variant virus outbreaks.

On the 20th, citizens visiting the screening clinic set up at Yongsan-gu Public Health Center in Seoul are moving to get tested. Photo by Yonhap News

COVID-19 testing costs will become self-paid. Previously, when receiving a rapid antigen test (RAT) at local clinics for suspected COVID-19 symptoms such as high fever and cough, the test was free and only a consultation fee of 5,000 to 6,000 KRW was charged. However, from the 31st, the full cost of 20,000 to 50,000 KRW will be borne by the individual. Exceptions apply to the 'oral antiviral treatment target groups,' including seniors aged 60 and over, patients aged 12 and above with underlying conditions, high-risk hospitalized patients, and patients admitted to emergency rooms or intensive care units, who will receive 50% health insurance coverage for RATs.

The support for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test fees will also be reduced. While symptomatic individuals previously paid only 30-60% of the cost, going forward, only the oral antiviral treatment target groups will receive support.

Support for living expenses and paid sick leave, which was provided to confirmed cases from households with median income at or below 100% and companies with fewer than 30 employees, will also end.

However, to protect high-risk groups, the mask-wearing mandate will remain in place at hospital-level medical institutions and residential infection-vulnerable facilities. The government will also maintain support systems for high-risk groups, including free treatment and vaccination for all citizens, partial coverage of hospitalization costs for severe patients, and priority testing fee support.

Meanwhile, the total number of confirmed cases in the fourth week of August was 264,305, a 9.4% decrease compared to the previous week. This marks a continuous decline over two weeks since the third week of August. The infection reproduction number stands at 0.94, remaining below 1.0 for two consecutive weeks.

New deaths numbered 132, and new critically ill patients numbered 234, both increasing compared to the previous week following the rise in cases. The daily average number of deaths is 19, about one-quarter of the level in the fourth week of August last year. The severe case rate (0.10%) and fatality rate (0.04%) continue to remain at low levels.

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