On January 24, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced that it will revise the medical responsive measures as listed below starting today in response to an increased risk of community spread and to protect medical capacities.

A. Visitation control: Hospitals nationwide will ban visits with certain exceptions. Visitors who obtain the permission of the hospitals for a visit in a special situation should provide a negative result from a rapid antigen test or PCR test taken within three days prior to the day of visit. Visitors who have completed primary series vaccination for 14 days or more will take a government-funded test; those who haven't will take a self-paid test.

B. Screening of hospitalized patients:
Whether they have completed primary series vaccination for 14 days or more, hospitalized patients should take a government-funded COVID-19 test within three days before admission if they are admitted for non-emergencies; those admitted for emergencies should take a government-funded test before admission. Hospitalized patients can be exempted from the said screening measures if they were confirmed to have COVID-19, met the conditions for release from isolation, and experienced onset of symptoms less than three months ago.

C. Management of individuals accompanying hospitalized patients: In principle, one individual is allowed for one hospitalized patient at all hospitals in the country. Whether they have completed primary series vaccination for 14 days or more, individuals accompanying hospitalized patients should take a government-funded COVID-19 test within three days before patients they care for are admitted if patients are admitted for non-emergencies; individuals accompanying those admitted for emergencies should take a government-funded test before patients' admission. Only the testing fee of one individual accompanying the patient is paid by the government. Individuals accompanying hospitalized patients who have not completed primary series vaccination for 14 days or more will undergo self-paid testing every week; starting February 1, such individuals will begin to undergo self-paid testing when entering the hospital. Such individuals can be exempted from the said screening measures if they were confirmed to have COVID-19, met the conditions for release from isolation, and experienced onset of symptoms less than three months ago.

D. Management of healthcare personnel:
a. Personnel in emergency departments, intensive care units and other high-risk units should complete primary series vaccination before February 1, 2022, if they are eligible for a booster dose. Those who have not completed primary series vaccination by the specified time should undergo government-funded testing every week.
b. Personnel in other units who haven't completed primary series vaccination for 14 days or more should undergo government-funded testing every week.