Gyeongnam Province Lifts Most Social Distancing Measures... Must Prevent New Variants and Resurgence with 4th Dose for 60+

Indoor dining allowed from the 25th, outdoor mask rules to be reviewed on the 29th

Gyeongnam Provincial Government Office.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] Gyeongsangnam-do has lifted most of the regulation-centered social distancing measures following the government's full repeal of social distancing.

Major measures related to operating hours, private gatherings, events, and assemblies have been lifted, but the indoor dining ban will be lifted from April 25 after a one-week preparation period.

Adjustments to outdoor mask-wearing will be reviewed on April 29, two weeks later, considering the relaxation of many quarantine measures.

High-risk facilities such as nursing hospitals and care facilities will maintain existing quarantine rules, including preemptive testing of inpatients/residents and workers, bans on visits and external access, and restrictions on outings and overnight stays except for essential outpatient treatment, with plans to review adjustments later.

The COVID-19 infectious disease classification will be adjusted from level 1 to level 2, reflecting strengthened response measures such as vaccination rates and the distribution of oral therapeutics, as well as relaxed quarantine measures.

Following the government's administrative notice on the 15th announcing the COVID-19 infectious disease classification as level 2, a four-week transition period will begin on the 25th, with a stabilization phase starting May 23 to promote the transition to a general medical system.

Home treatment will be maintained during the four-week transition period when confirmed patients' isolation obligations remain, and the home treatment system will be discontinued after May 23 when isolation obligations change to recommendations.

Temporary non-face-to-face medical services will be maintained to manage the health of confirmed patients under isolation recommendations.

In response to the increase in confirmed cases and deaths among those aged 60 and over due to Omicron becoming the dominant strain, a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose will be administered to prevent severe illness and death.

Same-day vaccinations have been available since the 14th of this month, and those with prior reservations are expected to be able to receive vaccinations starting from the 25th.

Vaccinations can be applied for online, by phone, or by visiting community centers, and the vaccination date can be selected starting one week after the reservation date.

The vaccination target group is those aged 60 and over, eligible from four months after their third dose.

Infection-vulnerable facilities such as nursing hospitals and immunocompromised individuals can receive the vaccine starting three months after their third dose, with Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax vaccines available.

Kwon Yang-geun, Director of the Welfare and Health Bureau of Gyeongnam Province, said, “We sincerely thank the self-employed, small business owners, and all residents who have endured much pain and cooperated,” adding, “We will strengthen the surveillance system in preparation for new variants and resurgence and make thorough preparations to quickly reactivate medical resources.”