[WORD_ON_THE_WEB] 'This is the result of the oh-so-great K-quarantine?'

Starting March 30, Covid-19 patients can receive treatment from local medical facilities and alternative medicine clinics.

Until now, Covid-19 outpatient treatment has been limited to clinics specializing in respiratory illnesses.

If a Covid-19 patient wishes to receive treatment, they are now free to visit a number of designated hospitals after making an appointment ahead of time.

Directly receiving prescription drugs is also prohibited.

Medical facilities wishing to offer outpatient treatment for Covid-19 patients must have an exclusive treatment space or specific hours exclusively for Covid-19 patients.

#a_much_needed_change
“This is a much-needed change. There should be more hospitals open for treatment. There are so many new cases. The waiting hours were excruciatingly long for me when I visited the hospital. It’s relieving to hear the policy has changed.”
“I needed treatment due to external injuries when I had Covid-19. The change will be good news for a lot of people.”

#what_happened_to_quarantine?
“What was the point of spending all that money and restricting people’s daily lives, if it was going to come to this? The self-employed are the real victim here….”
“This is the result of the oh-so-great ‘K-quarantine’ that the government was so proud of? We’re sitting ducks now.”

#risky_situations
“Great, now I’ll get Covid-19 after going to the hospital for a cold.”
“What if I get infected from the local hospital? What are they going to say then? Patients aren't allowed to receive prescription drugs themselves? What if the patient visited the hospital alone? Also, what happens when the doctors and nurses at local hospitals get infected?”

BY LEE SI-YEOUNG, YOO JI-WOO [yoo.jiwoo@joongang.co.kr]