이번주 코로나19 위기단계 하향논의 격리 축소 혹은 권고로 전환되나?
On the health front.
The nation weighs up downgrading the COVID alert level to ease the remaining virus prevention rules --like the mandatory self-quarantine.
The decision is expected as early as this Thursday.
Song Yoo-jin reports.
Following the World Health Organization's declaration that COVID-19 is no longer a global health emergency, health authorities in South Korea are discussing further relaxing the country's virus rules.
The remaining mandates are the seven-day quarantine for those who test positive for the virus and mask-wearing at high-risk facilities like hospitals and pharmacies.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, said back in March that the scrapping of virus protocols would happen in three stages.
One --Lowering COVID-19's national crisis level from the highest "serious" to the second-highest "alert."
Under this measure, the self-isolation period will be shortened from seven to five days and inbound travelers to South Korea will no longer be advised to take a PCR test within three days of arrival.
Two --Downgrading COVID-19 to a level four infectious disease, the lowest in the country's four-tier system from level two.
With this, mask-wearing will no longer be a requirement regardless of location, while self-isolation will also no longer be required, with both just advised.
Three --Treating COVID-19 as an endemic disease.
Mask-wearing and quarantine are not even advised.
As of now, the implementation of stage one is highly likely.
The KDCA has been repeatedly saying stage one would be implemented once the WHO declares an end to COVID-19's status as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
But another possible scenario is jumping straight to stage two.
South Korea's national advisory committee on infectious diseases held a meeting on Monday to discuss the easing of COVID-19 protocols.
At the meeting, most experts agreed on integrating steps one and two, scrapping mandatory quarantine, considering the stable virus situation both at home and abroad.
And the KDCA held an emergency assessment meeting on Tuesday afternoon with the same agenda.
Based on the outcomes of the two meetings, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters will make the final call.
The decision will be made either this week or next, as Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who convenes meetings of the body won't return from a trip to Europe until this Thursday.
Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News.
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2023-05-09, 21:00 (KST)
