Transition Team "Promoting Long COVID Measures"... Finalizing 100-Day COVID Roadmap Today

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[Asia Economy Reporters Yoo Byung-don and Moon Je-won] The Presidential Transition Committee announced on the 25th that it will promote measures to address Long COVID (long-term aftereffects of COVID-19) as the number of citizens complaining of post-COVID-19 symptoms increases.

Hong Kyung-hee, deputy spokesperson of the Transition Committee, said in a briefing at the committee's office in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, this morning, "Recently, many citizens have been complaining of post-COVID symptoms, but there is a lack of clear national-level measures or accurate assessments," adding, "Recognizing this issue, we have considered including it explicitly in the 'COVID-19 100-Day Roadmap."

Deputy spokesperson Hong explained, "In the second half of this year, a short- and long-term observational study on post-COVID symptoms will begin targeting 10,000 children and adolescents. Research utilizing confirmed case databases based on big data and data from the National Health Insurance Service will be conducted simultaneously," and added, "Additionally, governance measures such as designating and supporting medical institutions for treating and counseling patients with post-COVID symptoms will be included."

Regarding media reports that the Transition Committee is reviewing raising the government’s decision to downgrade COVID-19 infectious disease classification from Level 1 to Level 2 back to Level 1, Deputy Spokesperson Hong stated, "That is not true."

Hong emphasized, "The government has classified COVID-19 as a Level 2 infectious disease starting today and will implement a four-week transition period for additional measures such as lifting quarantine obligations. If shortcomings arise during this period, the adjustment of the classification level may be extended, but there has been no discussion at the Transition Committee level about raising it back to Level 1."

Meanwhile, the Health and Medical Subcommittee of the COVID-19 Emergency Response Special Committee will finalize the promotion plan, detailed tasks, and comprehensive quarantine measures for the COVID-19 100-Day Roadmap Project at 3 p.m. today.

Under the framework of five major promotion directions, the Special Committee has decided on detailed tasks by sector, including quarantine measures, infectious disease response, high-risk vulnerable groups, vaccine and oral treatment measures, and loss compensation.

The finalized plan is expected to be announced by Transition Committee Chairman Ahn Cheol-soo around the 27th.

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