Health workers clad in protective gear enter Dongbu Detention Center in southeastern Seoul on Jan. 3, 2021. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Nov. 5 (Korea Bizwire) — The Ministry of Justice said Thursday it will develop and implement measures to ensure the gradual return to normal life for correctional facilities to keep abreast of the government’s switch to a “living with COVID-19″ strategy
Given that the environment of such facilities is vulnerable to the influx and spread of COVID-19, the government plans to minimize the risk of COVID-19 infection by introducing a “vaccine pass” system where visitors have to show they have been fully vaccinated or have a negative test result.
It will provide various incentives, including visits with inmates, to vaccinated people, aimed at encouraging voluntary participation in vaccination.
The plan for return to normal life will be carried out in three stages, particularly in consideration of the potential for a possible surge in the number of new virus cases in the early phase of return to normalcy.
In the first stage, the measures taken during the previous social distancing period will remain unchanged, while guidelines will be adjusted to better prepare for entry into the phase of “living with COVID-19,” including the provision of incentives for vaccinated visitors and inmates.
In the second stage, the return to normal life will begin in earnest through the introduction of the vaccine pass system and the normalization of treatment for vaccinated visitors and inmates.
In the third stage, treatment for inmates and the operation of correctional facilities will be fully normalized, realizing a return to normal life.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
