"Concerns Over Concurrent Flu Outbreaks" COVID-19 Crisis Level Maintains 'Alert' This Winter

Mandatory Mask Wearing Maintained in Hospitals and Nursing Facilities
Public Health Center Screening Clinics End Operations After 1,433 Days
All 376 Designated Isolation Beds Nationwide Also Released

As the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, the COVID-19 crisis level, which was expected to be downgraded, is projected to remain at the 'Alert' level this winter. This is interpreted as a measure considering the persistent risk of winter outbreaks and concerns about the simultaneous spread of other respiratory infectious diseases such as influenza. However, some healthcare system reorganizations, such as the closure of public health center screening clinics as part of the return to normal life, are planned.

A screening clinic set up at Yongsan-gu Public Health Center in Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

On the morning of the 15th, the government held a Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting and decided on the 'Maintenance of COVID-19 Crisis Level and Reorganization of Response System' containing these details. Given the high possibility of respiratory infectious disease outbreaks, the alert level will be maintained until stabilization this winter, with a slight reorganization of the response system to transition to a general medical system.

The infectious disease crisis alert consists of four levels: Severe, Alert, Caution, and Attention. COVID-19 was downgraded from Severe to Alert in June and has remained at the Alert level since then. The Alert level indicates limited transmission of newly introduced infectious diseases from abroad and community transmission of domestic unknown or re-emerging infectious diseases. The lower Caution level is issued when there is domestic introduction of new infectious diseases from abroad or limited transmission of domestic unknown or re-emerging infectious diseases.

Although there were expectations that the crisis level could be lowered due to the absence of a major outbreak, on the 12th, Director Ji Young-mi of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency emphasized, "I think the downgrade should be considered after passing the winter season when respiratory infectious diseases are prevalent," adding, "We will observe for a few more months and review the level adjustment around early next year." Thus, the current level is expected to be maintained through the winter.

Accordingly, current quarantine measures that citizens most feel, such as mandatory mask-wearing in hospital-level medical institutions and residential infection-vulnerable facilities, will be maintained. Free supply of vaccines and therapeutics, partial support for hospitalization treatment costs for severe patients, and the current positive case monitoring system will also continue.

However, to restore the routine functions of public health centers, the government plans a slight reorganization of the general medical system by closing 506 screening clinics as of the 31st. The screening clinics, which began operation on January 20, 2020, will disappear after 1,441 days. Support for existing free polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for infection-vulnerable groups will continue. Since PCR tests will still be available at institutions prescribing oral therapeutics, most of the free test recipients can continue to get tested there.

Additionally, 376 designated isolation beds nationwide will be released. Son Young-rae, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters Situation Management Team, explained, "There are almost no patients currently being treated in the designated isolation beds," adding, "We see no need to operate them separately, and we predict there will be no significant changes due to their release."

Future adjustments to the crisis level are expected to be discussed again after winter. Regarding the indicators for lowering the crisis level, Son said, "We are reviewing the weekly average number of patients observed in the positive case monitoring system, trends in increases or decreases, and the status of the medical system," adding, "Since this is a period of increased infectivity and seasonal influenza is also showing epidemic patterns, we plan to observe through the winter activity period before making further judgments."

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