Authorities: "Quarantine Pass is a Protection Measure for the Unvaccinated... 53% of Severe Cases and Deaths are Unvaccinated"

"If There Had Been No Vaccine, Confirmed Cases Would Have Been 2-3 Times Higher, Severe Cases and Deaths 3-4 Times Higher"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chunhee] As of the 3rd, a validity period is being introduced for the vaccination certificate and negative test confirmation system (quarantine pass), and the quarantine authorities reiterated that the quarantine pass is a means to protect the unvaccinated, stating that the proportion of unvaccinated individuals among all severe and death cases reaches 53%.

Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, emphasized again during the COVID-19 back briefing on the morning of the same day, "The quarantine pass is a measure implemented to protect the unvaccinated and minimize the scale of infections because the severity and fatality rates among the unvaccinated are extremely high."

Regarding this, Mr. Son repeatedly cited statistics showing that 53% of severe patients or deaths are unvaccinated, emphasizing the effectiveness of vaccination and the importance of the quarantine pass. He said, "Unvaccinated individuals account for only 7% of adults aged 18 and over," adding, "If vaccination had no effect, it would be statistically consistent for confirmed cases and critically ill patients to also be 7%, but the data shows that 30% of confirmed cases and 50% of severe and death cases occur among the unvaccinated, demonstrating the effect of vaccination."

He continued, "The severity rate among the unvaccinated is consistently five times higher, and the mortality rate is four times higher compared to those fully vaccinated," and added, "It is natural that vaccination is effective, and questioning its effectiveness considering its impact on the scale of confirmed cases, severe patients, and deaths is unscientific." Mr. Son also stated, "If there were no vaccines, the number of confirmed cases would have been 2 to 3 times higher, and severe cases and deaths would have been 3 to 4 times higher."

Mr. Son emphasized that the current pillars of quarantine policy?social distancing, quarantine pass, and vaccination?must be maintained, saying, "If none of social distancing, quarantine pass, or vaccination are implemented together, there is no way to control the scale of confirmed cases and stabilize the healthcare system."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Currently, the quarantine authorities mandate the quarantine pass at a total of 17 types of facilities, including ▲entertainment venues (bars, karaoke bars, clubs, nightclubs, hunting pubs, emotional pubs, colatecs, dance halls) ▲singing practice rooms ▲indoor sports facilities ▲bathhouses ▲bicycle racing, motorboat racing, horse racing, casinos ▲restaurants and cafes ▲academies ▲movie theaters and performance halls ▲reading rooms and study cafes ▲multi-rooms (excluding arcades) ▲PC rooms ▲indoor sports stadiums (spectator) ▲museums, art galleries, science museums ▲party rooms ▲libraries ▲massage and bodywork establishments ▲department stores and large marts over 3,000㎡.

To use facilities where the quarantine pass applies, a vaccination certificate showing that at least 14 days have passed since the completion of vaccination must be submitted. Additionally, unvaccinated individuals who have a negative PCR test, children and adolescents under 18, COVID-19 recovered patients, and those unable to receive vaccination due to medical reasons can enter facilities according to each facility’s criteria if they have the relevant supporting documents. Unvaccinated individuals may use restaurants and cafes alone without related documents.

From today, a validity period for the quarantine pass has also been set. It is valid for 180 days after the second dose, and receiving the third dose reactivates its validity. Those who received their second dose in the first half of last year and have not yet received the third dose cannot use facilities requiring the quarantine pass without a negative PCR test or similar. The validity period for the quarantine pass renewed by the third dose has not been separately set.

Regarding concerns that the expansion of the quarantine pass might give fully vaccinated individuals a false sense of security and reduce vigilance, the authorities emphasized, "We are making efforts to manage messaging so that it is not interpreted as 'fully vaccinated individuals can be completely assured'."