<Anchor>
the
World Health Organization has declared that it is lifting the corona global health crisis. It's been three years and four months since the proclamation. The number of cases is declining, and the variant is not serious. The coronavirus, which first emerged in late December 3, has recorded more than 4 million confirmed cases and 2019.12 million deaths, and is now at the level of a routine pandemic. Our authorities also plan to lift the remaining quarantine measures soon.

Kwon Ran is a reporter.

<Reporter>
When the
World Health Organization declared the lifting of the COVID-7 international state of emergency, the government said it would quickly finalize a plan to lower the level of the domestic coronavirus crisis.

In line with Phase 6 of the Roadmap for Daily Recovery, which was announced at the end of March, we will soon confirm the timing of Phase 5, which will first lower the crisis level from "severe" to "alert."

[Lim Sook-young/Director of the Situation Team of the Central Epidemic Prevention Headquarters (last 690 days): At the crisis assessment meeting, we will comprehensively review the outbreak situation in Korea and various epidemic prevention situations, and announce them after expert advice.]

In Phase 19, the quarantine period for people with confirmed coronavirus will be reduced from the current 3 days to 3 days.

The recommendation for international arrivals to take a PCR test within three days of arrival will also be removed.

By July this year, when medical institutions and local governments are ready to return to the old system, they will switch to Phase 1 and adjust the corona pandemic rating to Level 3, like the flu.

All quarantine and mask mandates will be lifted, and testing and inpatient treatment expenses, as well as living support expenses for confirmed cases and paid vacation expenses, will be suspended.

Only vulnerable and seriously ill patients, such as the elderly, will receive some support.

Once we can manage corona like a seasonal disease, we will enter the final three phases, which are expected to be next year at the earliest.

However, authorities say that lifting the WHO state of emergency is not the end of corona.

In addition, we emphasize that it is not yet time to be relieved as the number of corona cases is increasing slightly, with the average number of confirmed cases per day increasing by 1% from one week ago to close to 7,5 last week.

(Video editing : Kim Ho-jin, CG : Eom So-min)