Military: "Full visitation allowed for vaccinated soldiers... Exemption from quarantine upon return from leave"

"Vaccinated Individuals Returning from Leave Exempt from Quarantine if PCR Test is Negative and Asymptomatic"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] From now on, once COVID-19 vaccination is completed, visits to the military will be fully allowed. In addition, soldiers who have completed vaccination will be exempt from the 2-week quarantine upon returning from leave.

The Ministry of National Defense announced on the 22nd that it has issued military quarantine guidelines for those who have completed COVID-19 vaccination to the entire armed forces. Soldiers who have received a single-dose vaccine and 2 weeks have passed, or those who have received two doses of a two-dose vaccine and 2 weeks have passed, will not be quarantined upon returning from leave if their polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results are negative and they show no symptoms, but will only undergo 14 days of preventive observation.

In particular, if either the soldier or the visitor is vaccinated, visits will be fully allowed while adhering to quarantine guidelines. The visit ban, which has been in place since February 22 last year to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within the military, will be lifted only for those who have completed vaccination.

Proactive testing, which was conducted once a month for military police, military correctional facility workers, new recruits, and personnel at training institutions, will no longer be necessary for those who have completed vaccination.

Furthermore, starting in July, both first-dose recipients and those who have completed vaccination will be allowed to not wear masks in indoor and outdoor sports facilities. They will also be excluded from the attendance limits for regular religious activities. If composed only of vaccinated individuals, choir groups, small gatherings, and praise sessions will be permitted. Additionally, vaccinated individuals will be exempt from restrictions on the number of people allowed in private gatherings inside and outside the base, as well as from capacity limits at multi-use public facilities operated by the military, such as the War Memorial and the National Cemetery.

The Ministry of National Defense explained, "The relaxation of quarantine guidelines for vaccinated individuals by health authorities will also apply to those who have completed vaccination in the military," and added, "The military's own quarantine guidelines will also be relaxed to the level of health authorities for those who have completed vaccination."