Quarantine to be reduced to five days for those who test positive for Covid

Social Affairs

Published: 29 Mar. 2023, 11:00 Updated: 29 Mar. 2023, 11:08

Quarantine to be reduced to five days for those who test positive for Covid

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo speaks at a Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting held at the government complex in central Seoul on Wednesday. [NEWS1]

Quarantine for people who test positive for Covid-19 will be reduced to five days from seven, the government announced Wednesday.

"The decision to lower the Covid-19 alert level from "serious" to alert" will come in May," Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said in a Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting held at the government complex in Seoul on Wednesday morning.

The reduced quarantine will follow once the alert level is downgraded, Han added.

The remaining mask mandate for some medical facilities will be removed if the level is further downgraded. The health authorities will no longer keep track of the number of nationwide Covid cases and turn to a sample watch system under the change.

"The long battle against Covid-19 is nearing an end after more than three years," Han said. "It was a tough process, but thanks to the participation of the people and patience and dedication of the medical staff, we made it to this point."

BY SOHN DONG-JOO [sohn.dongjoo@joongang.co.kr]