From the 1st of next month, the duty of the first day of entry into the country for the PCR test will also be lifted.
Lee Ki-il, the first general coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Second Vice Minister of Health and Welfare), said in a remarks at the major headquarters meeting today (30th), "From 00:00 on October 1, the PCR test duty will be lifted within one day after entry. "He said.
Following the lifting of the quarantine obligations for inbound travelers and the lifting of pre-entry inspections, this measure eliminates all quarantine measures against COVID-19 related to entry into Korea.
The first general coordinator explained that the decision was made in consideration of the fact that the rate of confirmed cases imported from overseas dropped from 1.3% in August to 0.9% in September, and the recently dominant BA.5 mutation has a low fatality rate.
Those who have symptoms of COVID-19 within 3 days of entering the country can undergo PCR testing for free at public health centers.
“However, if there is a need to strengthen immigration control, such as a mutation with a high fatality rate, we will consider re-introduction,” said Lee.
The government also decided to allow contact visits at facilities vulnerable to infection, such as nursing hospitals and facilities, which had been restricted since July 25 due to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, from the 4th of next month.
Visitors can have a face-to-face visit with inpatients and inpatients at nursing hospitals and facilities, etc. at any time if they check their voice with the self-diagnosis kit before visiting.
However, you must wear a mask while visiting and refrain from eating or drinking.
Seniors staying at nursing hospitals and facilities are allowed to go out and stay overnight if they have completed the 4th vaccination.
So far, only outpatients are allowed to go out when they need outpatient treatment.
External programs of nursing hospitals and facilities are also allowed to resume if instructors who meet the requirements such as the third vaccination are conducted.
This 1st general coordinator said that the number of group infections in infection-prone facilities decreased by 64% from 3,15 in August to 1,75 in September, and the 4th vaccination rate in nursing hospitals and facilities was also very high at 90.3%. He explained that the quarantine measures for vulnerable facilities have been relaxed.
He said today that the number of new confirmed cases is around 28,000, and 24.77 million people, or 48% of the total population, have experienced Corona 19.
The infection reproduction index was 0.80, below 1 for the fifth week in a row.
The 1st general coordinator said that there is a possibility that the flu (influenza) and Corona 19 will come at the same time this winter, and that he will make efforts to prevent and manage schools and youth facilities where teenagers with high infection rates live to thoroughly prepare in advance.
(Photo = Yonhap News)