Korea drops Covid-19 isolation mandate, closes temporary testing centers

A temporary testing center in Seoul has been closed. [Photo by Yonhap]

People infected with Covid-19 in South Korea are no longer required to isolate for 7 days following the government’s decision Thursday to end almost all of the pandemic rules that had been in place for more than three years since the first infection case on Jan. 20 in 2020.

The government has lowered the national crisis level for Covid-19 from “serious” to “alert” as of Thursday. Under the revision, people infected with Covid-19 are no longer required to isolate for 7 days. Instead, the government advises them to voluntarily stay home for 5 days.

Mask mandates at pharmacies and medical clinics have also been lifted.

The mandates, however, are still in place for higher-level healthcare facilities such as hospitals and homecare centers with high risk of infection.

People arriving from overseas will also be free from the recommended polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests on the third day of their arrival. Temporary testing centers have also closed.

Most of the restrictions people have faced daily have been lifted but the government will continue to provide financial support for vaccinations, treatment, and hospital admissions.

The government has also changed its Covid-19 quarantine approach.

The prime minister will no longer preside over a regular Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting. Instead, the Ministry of Health and Welfare will be in charge of dealing with Covid-19.

The government will share details on the infection cases on a weekly basis instead of a daily basis from June 5.