Elderly care facilities to open for family visits from July 1

People line up for COVID-19 tests at a makeshift clinic at Wangsung Church in Seoul, Friday, after one of the churchgoers tested positive for the virus. Yonhap

By Bahk Eun-ji

Health authorities said Friday they will allow family members to visit patients in nursing homes and care facilities from July 1, following growing complaints from patients and their families.

All elderly care facilities have been shut down since March to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among the vulnerable population.

But the quarantine authorities have imposed some conditions.

Visits will only be allowed in a space near the facility's entrance or outdoors. Reservations will be required and visitors will be asked to disinfect their hands and wear masks and plastic gloves. They will also be checked for virus symptoms and have their temperature taken.

Transparent barriers, such as glass doors or curtains, should be installed to prevent physical contact. There also will be restrictions on eating food.

“We will allow visits in a limited way at nursing homes and facilities from July,” said Yoon Tae-ho, a senior official at the Central Disaster Management Headquarters, during a regular briefing at the Government Complex in Sejong.

As the COVID-19 pandemic has continued for more than five months, concerns have been raised that patients and residents who cannot see their families have been feeling more isolated and depressed.

Under the conditions, where a patient has mobility difficulties, visitors will be required to wear personal protective gear and the meeting will take place in a single room where they are separated from others.

The authorities will require facilities to be disinfected and ventilated frequently. After visits, patients will be monitored for any suspicious symptoms such as coughing, a high fever or a sore throat.

“Based on the rate of occurrence of the virus infection cases by region, the city and provincial governors can decide whether or not they are going to allow visitors to those facilities,” Yoon said.

“The level of quarantine measures for visiting the nursing facilities can be adjusted according to changes in the virus situation and the stage of social distancing measures.”

The health authorities, however, still remain anxious over the steady rise in infection clusters and imported cases and they are putting in extra efforts to contain the spread of the virus.

According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (KCDC), the country added 39 cases Friday, including 27 local infections, raising the total caseload to 12,602. The death toll remained unchanged at 282.

Of the local infections, at least 12 were traced to a church in southern Seoul, the KCDC said. Health authorities are conducting tests on about 1,700 people who came in contact with the patients. The infections appeared linked to close contacts via choir activities or a workshop program.