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COVID-19 Update (February 9, 2022)
Updates on Home Treatment for COVID-19 Patients
The Korean government is said to implement eased monitoring and quarantine measures for low-risk COVID-19 patients and focus on treatment of those in high-risk groups such as patients aged 60 or older, etc.
This is in response to the recent surge of the spread of the Omicron variant which is more transmissible than the delta variant but relatively less likely to turn into severe cases.
This means,
① Daily checkup by health officials which was originally provided to all COVID-19 patients will apply only to high-risk COVID-19 patients, leaving low-risk patients, those in their 50s of younger, to monitor conditions and contact local health centers or hospitals themselves.
② Simplified self-quarantine kits will mainly be provided to those in high-risk groups only (differs depending on the availability of goods and situation of each local authority)
③ Family members of COVID-19 patients (with negative PCR test) can go out even during quarantine period to buy necessity goods such as food, medicine, etc.
④ Management of patients via GPS application will no longer be done.
Quarantine Period
Originally
Fully Vaccinated
(14 days after completion of 3rd vaccine or 90 days within completion of 2nd vaccine)
Unvaccinated or those who do not fall under the fully vaccinated category
COVID-19 Patient
7 days quarantine
10 days quarantine
Close Contact with COVID-19 Patient
Not subject to quarantine (only passive monitoring) (PCR Test on Day 6~7)
7 days quarantine (PCR Test on Day 6~7)
❗❗ Updated (as of Feb 9)
Fully Vaccinated
(14 days after completion of 3rd vaccine or 90 days within completion of 2nd vaccine)
Unvaccinated or those who do not fall under the fully vaccinated category
COVID-19 Patient
7 days quarantine
7 days quarantine
Close Contact with COVID-19 Patient
7 days quarantine only applies to 1) cohabitants of the COVID-19 patient that have not completed vaccination 2) workers of facilities for elderly and disabled and mental health care who had close contact with COVID-19 patients
One PCR tests will be held for those under quarantine or monitoring and it the test results are negative, they will be released from quarantine and monitoring as of midnight on the 7th day (00:00 on the 8th day).
In addition, if a COVID-19 gets released from quarantine, cohabitants will be released from quarantine and passive monitoring. However, for the next 3 days, they must wear a KF94 mask and not come into contact with those in high-risk groups.
New COVID-19 Protocols for Schools
According to the Ministry of Education, a four-phased COVID-19 response system for schools will take into effect from the new semester in March:
① Classes and extracurricular activities all allowed
② Only regular classes allowed (restrictions on extracurricular activities)
③ School will run in hybrid format (both online & offline classes)
④ School will run completely online
The key to the implementation of this new system is to allow schools to flexibly respond to the occurrence of confirmed cases within the school, taking into account the characteristics of the grades, classes, etc.
If more than 3% of the school population tests positive to COVID-19 or the ratio of confirmed/self-quarantined students exceeds 15%, the school has to set its own standards and decide on the attendance and method of class. However, unless such situation happens, it is recommended for schools to run in-person classes rather than shifting to remote learning
Students who are COVID-19 patients must go through self-quarantine for 7-10 days, and those who have been in close contact with confirmed students must undergo 3 rapid antigen tests with a self-test kit within 7 days. This will be provided by the schools for students to test themselves at home.
COVID-19 Update (February 9, 2022)
Updates on Home Treatment for COVID-19 Patients
The Korean government is said to implement eased monitoring and quarantine measures for low-risk COVID-19 patients and focus on treatment of those in high-risk groups such as patients aged 60 or older, etc.
This is in response to the recent surge of the spread of the Omicron variant which is more transmissible than the delta variant but relatively less likely to turn into severe cases.
This means,
① Daily checkup by health officials which was originally provided to all COVID-19 patients will apply only to high-risk COVID-19 patients, leaving low-risk patients, those in their 50s of younger, to monitor conditions and contact local health centers or hospitals themselves.
② Simplified self-quarantine kits will mainly be provided to those in high-risk groups only (differs depending on the availability of goods and situation of each local authority)
③ Family members of COVID-19 patients (with negative PCR test) can go out even during quarantine period to buy necessity goods such as food, medicine, etc.
④ Management of patients via GPS application will no longer be done.
Quarantine Period
Originally
(14 days after completion of 3rd vaccine or 90 days within completion of 2nd vaccine)
❗❗ Updated (as of Feb 9)
(14 days after completion of 3rd vaccine or 90 days within completion of 2nd vaccine)
One PCR tests will be held for those under quarantine or monitoring and it the test results are negative, they will be released from quarantine and monitoring as of midnight on the 7th day (00:00 on the 8th day).
In addition, if a COVID-19 gets released from quarantine, cohabitants will be released from quarantine and passive monitoring. However, for the next 3 days, they must wear a KF94 mask and not come into contact with those in high-risk groups.
New COVID-19 Protocols for Schools
According to the Ministry of Education, a four-phased COVID-19 response system for schools will take into effect from the new semester in March:
① Classes and extracurricular activities all allowed
② Only regular classes allowed (restrictions on extracurricular activities)
③ School will run in hybrid format (both online & offline classes)
④ School will run completely online
The key to the implementation of this new system is to allow schools to flexibly respond to the occurrence of confirmed cases within the school, taking into account the characteristics of the grades, classes, etc.
If more than 3% of the school population tests positive to COVID-19 or the ratio of confirmed/self-quarantined students exceeds 15%, the school has to set its own standards and decide on the attendance and method of class. However, unless such situation happens, it is recommended for schools to run in-person classes rather than shifting to remote learning
Students who are COVID-19 patients must go through self-quarantine for 7-10 days, and those who have been in close contact with confirmed students must undergo 3 rapid antigen tests with a self-test kit within 7 days. This will be provided by the schools for students to test themselves at home.