[Issue Q&A] Those Aged 70 and Over Who Have Completed Vaccination Can Receive 'Home Treatment'... All Cohabitants Prohibited from Going Out

Hospitalization factors or high-risk household members make it impossible
Isolation period is 10 days... Health monitoring twice daily

No outings allowed during home treatment period... Household members also prohibited
Unvaccinated young children are exceptionally allowed to isolate together

On the morning of the 8th, medical staff are conducting tests at the screening clinic of Songpa-gu Public Health Center in Songpa-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] From now on, even if diagnosed with COVID-19, asymptomatic or mild confirmed cases under 70 years old without hospitalization factors can receive treatment at home without separate institutional isolation, with their consent. Depending on vaccination completion status and presence of a caregiver, existing cohabitants may also be allowed to co-isolate with the confirmed patient.

Questions related to home treatment have been organized in a Q&A format.

Who is eligible for home treatment?

Home treatment is generally possible for asymptomatic or mild confirmed cases under 70 years old who consent to it. However, it is not allowed if the living environment is vulnerable to infection due to difficulty in blocking contact with others, such as in goshiwon (small lodging houses), share houses, or homelessness, or if the home treatment subject (or caregiver) has difficulty communicating for non-face-to-face health management and isolation management.

It is also not possible if the patient belongs to a high-risk group with hospitalization factors. Those with symptoms such as consciousness disorders, respiratory distress, diabetes, dialysis, chronic lung disease, asthma, heart failure, coronary artery disease, bedridden status, severe obesity with BMI over 30, immune disorders, or high smoking risk cannot receive home treatment.

Home treatment is also possible with restrictions for those aged 70 or older. If the confirmed patient has completed vaccination, has a caregiver capable of providing care who co-isolates, and communication is possible using self-quarantine and health management apps, home treatment can be provided.

How can one apply for home treatment?

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Home treatment candidates who meet all related conditions and consent will be finally decided by the city/provincial bed allocation team based on the basic epidemiological investigation form and additional questionnaires from the public health center. After confirmation, you can inquire about the possibility of home treatment during the basic investigation at the public health center.

How long is the home treatment period?

Currently, for non-critical COVID-19 patients, the hospitalization period has been reduced from 10 days to 7 days, followed by 3 days of home quarantine if asymptomatic. Home treatment patients are subject to the same 10-day isolation period as hospitalized and facility-treated patients. For asymptomatic cases, home treatment lasts 10 days from the confirmation date; for mild cases, 10 days from symptom onset.

What kind of treatment is provided during home treatment?

Home treatment patients receive health monitoring twice daily, including temperature and oxygen saturation checks. If necessary, they can receive non-face-to-face medical consultations (via phone or video communication) and prescriptions from doctors. Patients also input daily health information into a mobile app and have at least one phone call with medical staff daily.

What happens if symptoms worsen or an emergency occurs during home treatment?

If COVID-19 symptoms appear or worsen during home treatment, patients can receive non-face-to-face consultation and prescriptions from designated medical institutions or cooperating doctors assigned by the public health center. For other diseases unrelated to COVID-19, patients can directly choose their medical institution for phone consultation and prescriptions.

Prescribed medications can be received through arrangements between the patient and pharmacist, and if necessary, delivery can be requested via the public health center.

In emergencies, contact the 24-hour available local government home treatment team staff or designated medical institutions using emergency contact numbers. For non-critical emergencies, decisions on transfer or hospitalization are made based on medical staff judgment through phone consultation or examination by designated medical institutions or cooperating doctors.

Is going out allowed during the home treatment period?

Home treatment patients are not allowed to leave their residence or move to other locations. A dedicated quarantine management public official is assigned to monitor any departure via phone or app.

If a home treatment patient leaves their residence without a valid reason, they will be reported under a zero-tolerance policy. They may face imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of up to 10 million KRW, and claims for damages will also be pursued. Violation may result in mandatory wearing of a safety band, and refusal can lead to isolation in a facility.

Is it possible to receive deliveries or food delivery during home treatment? How should garbage be disposed of?

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Both food deliveries and parcel deliveries are allowed. However, contactless delivery methods such as prepayment and leaving items at the door must be used to avoid contact with delivery personnel.

Garbage disposal is not allowed during the home treatment period. All waste must be disinfected using the provided disinfectant and plastic bags, sealed in the bag, then double-sealed in a volume-based waste bag, and disinfected externally. After home treatment ends, waste should be stored in the same manner for 3 more days, then disposed of as regular household waste starting from the 3rd day after quarantine release.

What happens to cohabitants if home treatment is conducted?

Non-infected cohabitants can live with the home treatment patient. However, cohabitants who are not caregivers and are unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated (less than 14 days after completion) cannot co-isolate. Caregivers, even if unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated, can co-isolate.

Since the COVID-19 virus is shed even in asymptomatic or mild cases, cohabitants must use strictly separated spaces as much as possible. Shared use of bathrooms is not allowed, and kitchens should preferably be used separately or served by the non-infected cohabitants. If space separation is unavoidable, guidelines such as disinfecting the bathroom with provided disinfectants after each use must be followed.

Cohabitants are also not allowed to go out during the home treatment period. If going out is absolutely necessary, they must contact the assigned public health center home treatment management official. Violations will result in criminal charges under the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act and mandatory wearing of a safety band. Refusal will lead to facility isolation.

Additionally, if vaccinated, cohabitants are exempt from additional isolation. After home treatment ends, if PCR tests on days 6-7 are negative, isolation is fully lifted. Unvaccinated individuals must undergo an additional 14-day isolation after home treatment ends.

If only vaccinated individuals can co-isolate, what happens if there are young children?

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Currently in Korea, vaccination for ages 12-17 is at the pre-registration stage, and vaccination eligibility for those 11 and under is undecided. In principle, only vaccinated cohabitants other than caregivers can co-isolate, so young children must live in separate spaces.

However, since one purpose of home treatment has been to provide care for minors, exceptions are recognized. It is currently allowed for non-infected children to live with infected parents during home treatment, so co-isolation with children is possible. However, children cannot go out, so attending school or daycare is prohibited.

Conversely, if only the child is confirmed positive and both parents are not fully vaccinated, in principle, only one parent can co-isolate as a caregiver. This is to minimize additional infections during home treatment. However, in exceptional cases where one caregiver is insufficient, an additional caregiver may be allowed depending on circumstances.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.