SOUTH KOREA
/The following information has been collected and collated by convergence consulting in collaboration with our in-country Global Alliance Partner. Please let us know if you have additional questions by emailing us at COVID-19@cc-global.com.
1. Does your country’s health authority have guidelines or requirements for when COVID-19 cases are classified work-related and reported as a workplace illness?
A case of COVID-19 can be classified as work-related and reported as a workplace illness if the cause is clear (e.g. medical workers in hospitals, elderly care center, etc.) or the job is highly exposed to potential risks of COVID-19 exposure under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
2. Is there information on the timing of “return to work” and the process for a worker to return, i.e. examination by a physician, or a negative COVID test?
The return to work release requirement for confirmed cases with symptoms includes; (1) no fever and improvement of clinical symptoms without fever medication; and (2) two consecutive negative test results in a 24-hour time period.
Confirmed cases without symptoms can be released from the hospital (and so available for work); (1) if the test results are negative twice in a 24 hour time period on the 7th day after confirmation, or (2) if the next test results (on the 10th or 14th day as determined by a doctor) are negative twice within a 24 hour time period.
For people who were in contact with a confirmed case, the quarantine release is allowed on the next day after 14 days from the last contact date and are without specific symptoms. The same requirement is applied even if a test result is negative. For clinical workers, care providers and family members who were in contact with a confirmed case, a test should be conducted on the 13th day from the last contact date and be negative in order to be released from the quarantine on the next day.
3. Does your country’s health authority have COVID-19 mitigation guidelines for the public and/or for business? If so, please list them below and how long they will be in place.
There are guidelines for the public and for businesses. Currently, the regulations in force can be found in public notice section in http://ncov.mohw.go.kr/. A Simplified English website is also available at (http://ncov.mohw.go.kr/en). A list of some guidelines is given below.
The prevention and the prevention of spread of COVID-19 Workplace Response Guidelines (8th Edition) was issued by Korea Center for Disease Control (KCDC) on April 6, 2020. This guideline provides comprehensive information from various government entities including; COVID-19 clinical symptoms, response to patients and confirmed cases, daily preventive activities, disinfection regimes, labor-related Q&A, posters for general public, self-isolation and reporting & control of confirmed cases.
COVID-19 Infection Response Guidelines Disinfection of Collective Facilities and Multi-use Facilities (3-2 edition) was issued by KCDC on May 11, 2020. This guideline is focused on decontamination of areas with daily use and with confirmed cases, including detailed daily decontamination and decontamination after confirmed case with advice on types of allowed chemicals to uses.
Basic Guideline for Social Distancing in Daily Life was issued by KCDC on May 8, 2020. As of May 6, 2020, Korean government announced an easing of control with respect to Social Distancing in Daily Life. The new guideline includes.
If sick, stay at home for 3-4 days.
Spacing should be at least two arms distance between persons.
Washing hands and coughing on sleeve.
Daily ventilation of rooms at least twice a day and routine disinfection.
Physically distanced, but emotionally attached.
4. Which governmental authority issued these guidelines, and are they voluntary or mandatory?
These guidelines are developed by Korea Center for Disease Control (KCDC)l under the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act in cooperation with the Ministry of Employment and Labor. They are mandatory.
5. Do these mitigation measures have any consequence, such as, if a person does not abide by these measures must they pay a fine or go to jail?
Fines may be as much as 10,000,000 Korean WON ($8,120 USD) or 1 year of imprisonment at maximum if the quarantine isolation order is not followed.
Smaller fines may be applied if a person hinders or neglects to participate inthe quarantine investigation or testifies with false information during a quarantine investigation.
6. Has your country adopted any laws or regulations related to COVID-19?
COVID-19 is defined as contagious, and the control is legally implemented under the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act. Additional guidelines are also issued based on on-going situations for new pandemic cases.
A list of laws based on the above guidelines can be found at: http://www.law.go.kr/lsInfoP.do?lsiSeq=188080&chrClsCd=010203&urlMode=engLsInfoR&viewCls=engLsInfoR#0000
The data presented here is not a complete analysis of all COVID-19 information; however, our in-country Partner will provide updates as and when considered appropriate and as relevant data becomes available. If you have any additional questions, or request for country information, please email us at COVID-19@cc-global.com with additional inquiri
