Thank you for your inquiry.

Following is the answer to your inquiry from Customized Practical Law Information.

◇ Subject to home-care inpatient treatment

A person at the risk of infection or transmission of an infectious disease through contact with a patient, etc. with an infectious disease is subject to home-care inpatient treatment or receive inpatient treatment at an infectious disease control institution.

- The Minister of Health and Welfare, the Special Self-Governing Province Governor, the Special Self-Governing City Mayor, a Mayor/Do Governor, or the head of a Si/Gun/Gu may permit any of the following persons to undergo treatment at his/her home (Article 41 paragraph 3 of the “Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act”).

· A person, other than those subject to inpatient treatment

· A person at the risk of infection or transmission of an infectious disease through contact with a patient, etc. with an infectious disease.

- Those who fail to comply with the above compulsory disposition will be punished by fine not exceeding KRW 3 million Article 80 subparagraph 4 of the “Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act”).

◇ Methods of home-care inpatient treatment

- Methods for home-care and inpatient treatment are as follows (Article 41 paragraph 4 of the “Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act” and Article 23 and annexed Table No. 2 subparagraph 1 of the “Enforcement Decree of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act”).

· The person must be in a place (independent room) that is not shared by multiple people during the home-care period.

· If it is difficult to carry out the home-care treatment as above, the person must be jointly isolated with the patient who suffers from the same disease or who is less likely to be affected by the re-infection.

· Except in cases where it is inevitable for the people to go out for medical treatment or other purposes, those who are in the home-care treatment must not leave or move out of the quarantine area.

· People in home-care treatment must use a separate bathroom isolating them from others if possible, thoroughly manage secretions and excrements, and disinfect toilets and contaminated items.

· The access of visitors, including caregivers, must be minimized, the visitors must wear personal protective gear such as disposable gloves, and appropriate measures must be enforced to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, such as hand washing.

· Disposable items used by those in home-care treatment must be disposed of after use, and items such as thermometers that are not suitable for single use must be used exclusively for those who are in the home-care treatment.

◇ Procedures for home-care treatment

- Procedures for home-care and inpatient treatment are as follows (Article 41 paragraph 4 of the “Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act” and Article 23 and annexed Table No. 2 subparagraph 2 of the “Enforcement Decree of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act”).

· The head of the competent public health center who has received a report under Article 11 of the “Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act” must determine who is not subject to inpatient treatment and who is required to undergo home-care treatment among those who have been in contact with patients with infectious diseases and inform those who are subject to such decisions, and monitor their home-care treatment.

· The home-care treatment for those who are subject to home-care treatment will last until the symptoms and infectivity cease to exist in case of patients with infectious diseases, and from the point of last contact to the maximum incubation period of the infectious disease. However, the period may be reduced by the judgment of the head of the public health center.

· The head of the competent public health center must lift the compulsory home-care treatment for those who are capable of being released from the home-care treatment.

Thank you for using our service.

We hope to continue to serve you in the future.