COVID-19 crisis alert to be adjusted from “serious” to “warning” starting Jun. 1, 2023.
The Korean government announced that it plans to adjust the COVID-19 crisis alert from “serious” to “warning” starting Jun. 1, 2023. It decided to lower the level of crisis alert, considering that stable management is possible given the high immunity level and sufficient medical response capacity.
When quarantine mitigation measures are confirmed, the 7-day mandatory quarantine period for confirmed patients will be converted to a 5-day self-quarantine “recommendation.” The PCR test recommended on the third day after entry will disappear, and the operation of temporary screening centers will also be suspended.
Early easing of major quarantine measures※ Enforcement on Jun. 1 when the alert is lowered
 

Classification	As-Is	To-Be (“Severe” → “Warning”)
Isolation	▸ Confirmed patients quarantined for 7 days	▸ Conversion to 5-day recommendation
Mask	▸ Partially maintained (inpatient-type infection-vulnerable facilities, medical institutions and pharmacies)	▸ Conversion to recommendation ▸ Partially maintained (hospital-level or higher medical institutions, inpatient-type infection-vulnerable facilities)
Protection of infection-vulnerable facilities	▸ Inpatients (at the time of admission) Workers (once a week) Preemptive test (PCR) ▸ No eating during face-to-face meetings (compliance with quarantine rules)	▸ Conversion of workers’ preemptive test to recommendation (PCR or RAT if necessary, such as contact with symptomatic or multiple people) ▸ Eating allowed during face-to-face meetings (compliance with quarantine rules)
Quarantine	▸ PCR recommended on the 3rd day after entry	▸ End of PCR recommended on the 3rd day after entry

Wearing masks indoors in clinics and pharmacies is no longer mandatory. For the time being, however, the mask mandate will be maintained at hospital-level or higher medical institutions where patients are concentrated and inpatient-type infection-vulnerable facilities.
The preemptive test mandate conducted once a week for workers at infection-vulnerable facilities will be eased by conducting when necessary, such as when experiencing fever. During face-to-face meetings, inpatients are allowed to eat and drink in compliance with the quarantine rules.
Even if quarantine measures are eased, government support such as the medical response system and treatment costs will be implemented as planned. Hospitalization costs for critically ill patients with COVID-19 will be partially subsidized, and treatments and vaccines provided free of charge.
Medical response and public support system
 

Classification		As-Is	To-Be (“Severe” → “Warning”)
Medical response	Diagnosis/Test	▸ PCR at Screening clinics/temporary screening test centers ▸ PCR/RAT at medical institutions	▸ Suspension of temporary screening test centers (operation of screening clinics) ▸ PCR/RAT at medical institutions
	Outpatient/at home	▸ Operation of one-stop medical institutions/support for home treatment	Maintained
	Hospital beds	▸ Designated beds (permanent + temporary), general beds	▸ Reduction of temporary designated beds, operation centered on permanent beds
	Infection control in medical institutions	▸ Preemptive test of inpatients and guardians (caregivers) ▸ Isolation (negative pressure, general), mandatory mask wearing	▸ Preemptive test of inpatients and guardians (caregivers) ▸ Mandatory mask wearing (hospital-level, infection-vulnerable facilities), quarantine (guidelines)
Support system	Remedy	▸ Free vaccination for everyone	Maintained
	Vaccination	▸ Operation of one-stop medical institutions/support for home treatment	Maintained
	Treatment costs	▸ Support for all inpatients	Maintained
	Living support/Paid vacation expenses	▸ Households with less than 100% of the median income ▸ Companies with less than 30 employees	Maintained
	Quarantine supplies	▸ Public health center screening clinics, infection-vulnerable facilities	Maintained
Monitoring/statistics		▸ Daily statistics aggregation and presentation	▸ Switched to weekly presentation
Disaster response system		▸ Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (pan-government) operating system	▸ Converted to the general system of the Central Disaster Management Headquarters (Ministry of Health and Welfare)

Source: Seoul Metropolitan Government Portal