Future pandemics may see fewer blanket restrictions under new plan
The KDCA shared plans to adopt a more flexible response system, delineating between 'limited transmission' and 'pandemic-type' outbreaks and preparing medical and municipal procedures accordingly.
Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency Commissioner Lim Seung-kwan announces the new infectious disease crisis management system at the National Biobank of Korea in Cheongju, North Chungcheong on June 10.YONHAP
Even if another pandemic breaks out, the strict quarantine and social distancing measures seen during Covid-19 may not accompany it.
Korea plans to adopt a more flexible response system to pandemics that adjusts disease-control measures based on the characteristics of the outbreak, pressure on the medical system and broader social costs.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced the plan Wednesday as part of a broader overhaul of the country's infectious disease crisis management system. The proposal covers 17 agendas across four areas: disease control and social response; medical response; vaccination; and research and development.
The KDCA said the prolonged quarantine policies used during the Covid-19 pandemic didn't adequately account for secondary effects that could arise, such as shortages of medical resources and excess deaths. The agency aims to establish a more efficient and resilient response system for future outbreaks with the new plan.
A key feature of the plan is a new classification system for infectious diseases. Diseases such as Ebola and MERS will be classified as "limited transmission" diseases that can potentially be eradicated domestically, while Covid-19 and H1N1 influenza will be categorized as "pandemic-type" diseases that require long-term management strategies.
Containment and eradication would remain the goal for limited-transmission diseases, while response measures for pandemic-type diseases would be adjusted according to the stage of an outbreak.
The government also plans to revise its crisis alert system.
Until now, alert levels have been determined primarily by the status of disease outbreaks. But under the new framework, authorities will also consider disease characteristics and the capacity of the country's disease-control, medical and social response systems.
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The KDCA also plans to establish a separate manual governing social measures such as mask mandates, gathering restrictions, travel controls and social distancing requirements.
The agency said the goal is to ensure such measures are implemented based on scientific evidence and fairness.
The medical response system will also be redesigned.
During the early stages of an outbreak, central and regional infectious disease hospitals will take the lead in treatment. During the middle and later stages of a pandemic, regional infectious disease centers and local treatment hospitals will handle mild cases.
The government said the approach is intended to avoid disruptions such as hospitals being devoted entirely to infectious disease treatment, as was often the case during the Covid-19 pandemic.
A total of 597 beds at 38 infectious disease hospitals and 938 beds at 55 emergency treatment facilities will be designated as beds for pandemic patients. KDCA will manage the beds, categorized into severe, general and specialized care-requiring patients.
A person gets tested for Covid-19 virus at a public health facility in central Seoul in August 2023.YONHAP
Additional beds for special patient groups, including children and maternity patients, will be designated so the group can receive infectious disease treatment without interrupting their existing care.
Regional response capabilities will also be strengthened.
The government plans to designate regional infectious disease centers, which will coordinate patient referrals, transfers and treatment across local medical institutions.
Authorities also plan to create methods to separate beds of general patients and infectious disease patients, allowing hospitals to care for both groups.
The KDCA will also introduce a new excess mortality monitoring system.
The agency plans to introduce a mortality surveillance system based on cremation data to detect unusual mortality patterns that exceed expected levels, while also enabling authorities to track mortality trends and estimate excess deaths in a timely manner.
The system is intended to assess not only whether disease-control measures reduce infections but also whether they contribute to disruptions in medical care and broader social harm.
The government also plans to strengthen vaccine management throughout the entire process, from vaccine evaluation and procurement to post-vaccination monitoring
A joint public-private vaccine procurement committee and a vaccine task force with various government agencies will be established to quickly secure vaccines during emergencies.
Adverse reactions will be monitored through both voluntary reporting and active survey-based reporting.
A sign at a restaurant in Ulsan asks customers to wear a mask before and after eating on Oct. 18, 2021, when Covid-19 regulations such as shortened store operating hours and rules restricting gatherings to less than 10 people took place.YONHAP
The KDCA also plans to accelerate the development of vaccines and treatments.
The agency will establish a research center focusing on infectious disease and build libraries of vaccine and treatment candidates for high-risk pathogens.
This will allow the government to develop vaccines within 100 days and treatments within 200 days during future crises. It also plans to localize production of Covid-19 mRNA vaccines by 2028.
Many of the initiatives, however, remain in the planning stage.
Funding for infectious disease response measures has yet to be secured. Officials acknowledged that regional infectious disease centers, creating a system that separates general and infectuous disease patients and the new social response manual will require financial support. Medical personnel and coordination among government agencies is also needed to function effectively during future crises.
“This plan focuses on ensuring continuity, efficiency, sustainability and resilience in responding to the next infectious disease crisis, which may come at an uncertain time, but [which] definitely can happen again,” said KDCA Commissioner Lim Seung-kwan.
“We will build a safer future in which an advanced response system operates to protect lives and preserve the value of everyday life,” Lim added.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
