[WORD_ON_THE_WEB] 'Finally we can start the return to our normal lives'

Starting Monday, eating inside cinemas and KTX trains is allowed. Supermarkets and department stores are permitted to give out food samples.

Visits to nursing homes are also temporarily allowed from April 30 to May 22.

The changes are due to Covid-19's infection disease level dropping to "Class 2," which is a step-down from "Class 1."

Other well-known Class 2 diseases include chicken pox and measles.

After the downgrade, seven days of quarantine are no longer mandatory for those infected with the disease.

Also, the government subsidies provided to patients to cover living and treatment expenses and paid leave expenses are no longer a given.

Quarantine measures and subsidies for treatments will stay the same as before.

#premature_changes
“No matter how much weaker the Omicron variant is, Covid-19 is still a serious disease with heavy side effects. This is no time for careless changes.”
“Downgrading to Class 2 is too premature. We can't treat Covid like a normal flu yet. What’s the rush?”

#step_by_step
“Finally we can start the return to our normal lives. Everyone, thank you for your hard work!”
“This isn’t giving up quarantine. It’s time we make some changes, with the number of new cases dwindling.”

#blind_spot
“It’s not fair that there’s no medical expense support for those who get infected. They’re the ones who took personal quarantine seriously.”
“When it’s downgraded to Class 2, the individual has to pay for treatment. What about the poor? The government is planning to neglect them.”

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