"Guideline Improvements for Expanding Non-Contact Visits"
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] The government will allow in-person visits starting from the 9th for severely ill patients hospitalized in nursing hospitals, provided that visitors wear protective gear and test negative.
Yoon Tae-ho, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters' quarantine team, stated at the COVID-19 regular briefing on the 5th, "According to the current social distancing level, non-contact visits are allowed, but some nursing hospitals and care facilities do not even permit that, so we want to clarify this more explicitly through guidelines," adding, "Along with non-contact visits, this time we will also implement in-person visits under slightly stricter conditions."
Until now, nursing hospitals and care facilities allowed non-contact visits depending on the social distancing level: nursing hospitals at level 2 or below, and care facilities at level 2.5 or below. However, many nursing hospitals and facilities independently banned or restricted visits due to concerns about group infections, causing distress and dissatisfaction among patients and their families.
In response, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters decided to clarify the standards for non-contact visits for all patients or residents in nursing hospitals and care facilities. First, on the premise of compliance with quarantine rules, a separate well-ventilated space will be prepared with partitions installed to allow visits in a non-contact manner. Specific quarantine rules and operational plans, such as prior reservation systems, checking visitors for fever and respiratory symptoms, prohibition of physical contact and food consumption, will be implemented through separate guidelines.
Furthermore, in cases such as end-of-life stages, unconscious or similarly severely ill patients or residents, or when the attending physician recognizes the necessity of visits for the patient's emotional stability, contact visits will be allowed. To prevent infection transmission risks, visitors must wear personal protective equipment including KF94 (or N95) masks, disposable waterproof long-sleeved gowns, disposable gloves, goggles or face shields, and shoe covers in single rooms or separate independent spaces. Additionally, contact visits will be permitted only if visitors present a negative PCR test result within 24 hours prior to the visit or a negative rapid antigen test result on-site.
Yoon explained, "In cases where patients are in intensive care units or emotionally distressed and in-person visits were not allowed, visits can now be permitted based on the attending physician's judgment," adding, "The intention is to allow visits after confirming a negative test and while wearing protective gear."
Regarding concerns that nursing hospitals may still be reluctant to allow contact visits due to fears of group infections, he said, "Contact visits occur only in very limited cases," and added, "Since the guidelines ensure that in-person visits can be conducted safely under prior conditions, we will continue to provide guidance so that nursing hospitals and care facilities can make good use of these measures."
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