COVID-19 Like the Flu... Mapo-gu Screening Clinics to Be Maintained

From the 31st, downgrade to Level 4... Various subsidies end, rapid antigen and PCR tests for symptomatic general patients require personal payment
Paxlovid and other COVID-19 treatments and vaccinations remain free

Mapo-gu (Mayor Park Gang-su) announced that following the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's downgrade of COVID-19 from a Class 2 to a Class 4 infectious disease and the implementation of Phase 2 of the recovery roadmap, the COVID-19 response system has been changed and implemented starting August 31.

COVID-19, which had been classified as a Class 1 infectious disease since January 2020, has been adjusted to a Class 4 infectious disease, the same level as influenza, after 3 years and 7 months, marking the beginning of the endemic phase.

Accordingly, Mapo-gu explained that from August 31, residents with suspected COVID-19 symptoms who receive a 'Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)' test or a 'Rapid Antigen Test (RAT)' at local medical institutions will have to bear the cost of testing themselves. However, for seniors aged 60 and over, patients aged 12 and above with underlying conditions, and immunocompromised individuals, while they must pay for the 'Rapid Antigen Test (RAT)', the 'Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)' test will be free of charge, so they are advised to confirm this when visiting medical institutions.

Additionally, the district announced that not only will the living support funds previously provided to households earning 100% or less of the median income be discontinued, but paid leave support for companies with fewer than 30 employees will also be stopped, and management of home treatment patients will end.

From August 31, COVID-19 confirmed patients will be classified as outpatients for COVID-19 at all medical institutions and receive treatment accordingly. However, the mask-wearing mandate in hospital-level or higher medical institutions and infection-vulnerable facilities will remain in effect, and treatments such as Paxlovid will continue to be provided free of charge for the time being.

Vaccinations will also remain free. They will continue to be administered once a year (twice a year for immunocompromised individuals), and nationwide free vaccinations are expected to begin in October.

A representative from the Mapo-gu Public Health Center stated, “Although the infectious disease classification has been downgraded, COVID-19 remains particularly dangerous for elderly people with underlying conditions, so we urge vaccination,” and added, “The screening clinics operated by the Mapo-gu Public Health Center will continue to operate after the 31st.”

Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo-gu, said, “Even after the transition of COVID-19 to a Class 4 infectious disease, we will not lower our guard and will ensure thorough monitoring to develop effective countermeasures,” and added, “We will also strengthen our quarantine capabilities against pandemic threats in the mid to long term.”

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