"COVID-19 Patient Care to Shift to Routine Medical System" ... Review of Isolation Period Reduction from '7 Days to 5 Days'

Omicron Wave Shows Gradual Decline
Home Treatment Patients Receive Prescribed Medicine In Person After Face-to-Face Consultation

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] As the number of new COVID-19 cases has decreased to the 200,000 range per day, the expansion of in-person treatment for confirmed patients is accelerating the recovery process toward a normal healthcare system. The quarantine authorities are discussing reducing the 7-day isolation period to about 5 days or scaling down the operation of residential treatment centers for mild patients.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 6th, as of midnight that day, the number of new COVID-19 cases increased by 286,294 from the previous day, bringing the total cumulative cases to 14,553,644.

Although the increase in new cases was over 20,000 more than the previous day (266,135), the number remained in the 200,000 range as the Omicron wave continued to decline. Typically, on Wednesdays, the "weekend effect" completely disappears, and the highest number of cases during the week is reported. It has been five weeks since the Wednesday case count dropped to the 200,000 range, last occurring on March 2 (219,223 cases). On March 9, new cases reached the 300,000 range (342,430 cases), followed by 400,578 on the 16th, 490,780 on the 23rd, and 424,597 on the 30th, all in the 400,000 range.

Along with the decline in the Omicron wave, the government is speeding up the return to normal life, and in-person treatment at local clinics and hospitals for confirmed patients is also expanding. According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, 1,735 outpatient clinics capable of providing in-person treatment for home-treated patients were added in one day on the 5th, bringing the total nationwide to 2,534.

The medical institutions applying for outpatient clinic designation are mainly otolaryngology, internal medicine, family medicine, and pediatrics, but also include obstetrics and gynecology, urology, orthopedics, and Korean medicine clinics, making it possible to receive treatment for diseases other than COVID-19 symptoms. Confirmed patients who require in-person treatment are allowed temporary outings even during isolation and can visit after making an appointment at the outpatient clinic in advance.

With confirmed patients receiving in-person treatment, it has also become possible to directly receive prescribed medications from pharmacies starting this day. The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters stated, "Since in-person treatment for home-treated patients is currently permitted, it is appropriate to allow medication pickup as well," and urged, "Confirmed patients should strictly follow quarantine rules when visiting pharmacies after treatment."

The quarantine authorities are considering shortening the isolation period for confirmed patients from the current 7 days to 5 days and lowering the infectious disease classification of COVID-19 from Level 1 to Level 2. Park Hyang, head of the quarantine task force at the Ministry of Health and Welfare Central Accident Response Headquarters, said on the 4th, "There is consideration regarding the home treatment period. Discussions are underway mainly led by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency," suggesting this possibility.

There is also a possibility of suspending or reducing the operation of residential treatment centers that treat mild COVID-19 patients. Currently, the nationwide operation rate of residential treatment centers is 18.6%, with 16,041 out of 19,703 beds vacant. The quarantine authorities stated the previous day, "The operation rate of residential treatment centers is low, so we are reviewing efficient operation plans," and added, "We plan to finalize future operation directions in line with the transition to a general medical response system."