Vaccinated Individuals Exempt from Quarantine Despite Close Contact with Confirmed Cases, Regardless of Variant Type

[Asia Economy Reporter Chunhee Lee] If you have completed the COVID-19 vaccination, you will be exempt from quarantine even if you have close contact with a confirmed case of the COVID-19 Delta variant.

Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters and Director of the National Institute of Health, stated at the regular briefing of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on the 23rd, "If a vaccinated person has close contact with a confirmed case and shows no symptoms, they will be exempt from self-quarantine and will undergo passive monitoring regardless of the variant virus." This measure is based on the revised domestic guidelines for managing vaccinated individuals and will be implemented starting from the 24th.

Since the start of COVID-19 vaccination, the authorities initially exempted vaccinated individuals?who completed the required doses (one dose for Janssen, two doses for other vaccines) and 14 days have passed since the last dose?from quarantine if they tested negative after close contact with a confirmed case. However, as variants such as the Delta variant became dominant in Korea, quarantine exemption was not allowed for vaccinated individuals infected with these variants.

From the 24th onward, vaccinated individuals without symptoms will be exempt from quarantine. Director Kwon explained, "Recent research has confirmed that the currently administered vaccines are effective against variant viruses, so we have changed the policy to exempt self-quarantine."

To qualify for quarantine exemption, two negative PCR tests are required: one immediately after classification as a contact and another 6 to 7 days after the last contact. Additionally, individuals must strictly follow the 'passive monitoring lifestyle guidelines,' which include monitoring their health for 14 days, getting tested if symptoms appear, refraining from going out or visiting multi-use facilities, and adhering to prevention measures. Director Kwon emphasized, "If these rules are violated, the status will be changed to self-quarantine," urging strict compliance.

However, this quarantine exemption incentive for vaccinated individuals does not apply to high-risk group facilities such as long-term care institutions, mental health facilities, facilities for the disabled, and correctional facilities. As cluster outbreaks have recently been reported, management of these facilities is being strengthened. Regardless of vaccination status, quarantine will be applied to residents, users, and workers in long-term care institutions where confirmed cases occur.