Starting next May, South Korea will completely change its approach in responding to COVID-19, from the pandemic phase to the ‘endemic’ disease phase.
Accordingly, the country will lift some of the last remaining regulations, including the requirement to wear masks in closed spaces at hospitals.
According to Yonhap news agency, in an announcement on April 19, South Korean health authorities said they would lower the COVID-19 warning level to the lowest level, bringing the country back to the stage before the pandemic broke out. about 4 years ago. The Central Agency for Safety and Disaster Response (CDSCH) commented that the current COVID-19 epidemic situation is “very stable, the death rate is low and no particularly dangerous variants have been recorded.”
This decision was made more than 4 years after South Korea recorded its first case of COVID-19 on January 20, 2020.
Thus, from May 1, the requirement to wear masks in closed spaces at hospitals and other facilities will be completely lifted. Government-level disaster response organizations, such as CDSCH, which has overseen disaster control measures since the COVID-19 outbreak, will be dissolved.
The South Korean government will also end most medical support measures. Accordingly, the government will no longer cover the cost of COVID-19 testing or hospitalization for some seriously ill patients, while patients will have to pay part of the cost of treatment with the oral antiviral drug Paxlovid.
The COVID-19 vaccine will continue to be available for free to all people through the 2023-2024 flu season, but after that will be limited to high-risk groups, such as people 65 and older. up and immunocompromised people.
“Even though the COVID-19 alert level has been lowered, we must prioritize rest when we feel unwell,” said Ms. Jee Young-mee, head of CDSCH. She recommended that people quickly seek medical attention, self-isolate at home and wash their hands frequently if symptoms of COVID-19 appear.