At the COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters Meeting held at the presidential office in Yongsan on May 11, President Yoon said there would be a change in the COVID-19 crisis alert. From June 1, the level of COVID-19 crisis warning will change from "serious" to "warning." This is the first change in three years and four months-or 1208 days-since the "serious" crisis warning was issued. At the meeting, experts said the decision was made because the World Health Organization lifted the COVID-19 crisis on May 5, while the number of recent confirmed cases and the fatality of COVID-19 remained low in South Korea. The mitigation of this alert will also result in the relaxation of various regulations that have restricted our daily lives so far.

   The most representative change is that even if confirmed with COVID-19, there is no need to quarantine any more. From June 1, quarantine will be conducted autonomously depending on the confirmed patient's health status or his or her choice, and if the patient wants to, it will be possible to continue his or her social life as usual without the quarantine period. PCR testing, which was recommended when entering South Korea, is no longer necessary, and temporary screening stations will also disappear completely. The mask-related regulations will also change. The mandatory wearing of masks in local hospitals and pharmacies will be lifted, and masks will not be required anywhere except in large hospitals with inpatient rooms and nursing facilities vulnerable to infection. 

   However, PCR tests will continue to be conducted at the health center's screening stations so that people in the high-risk infection group can easily get PCR tests. In addition, inpatient treatment and quarantine subsidies paid at the time of confirmation will be maintained, and anyone can still get a free vaccination. The government promised to secure countermeasures in five areas to cope with infectious diseases. Many expect that society will be revitalized again at the end of COVID-19, which has long blocked and restricted our daily lives.