On May 17, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced that the principles for separately admitting and treating mild and severe COVID-19 cases have been changed, effective from today. Adjusted criteria are listed below.

A. Hospitals: infected individuals who have moderate or severe symptoms, who are less than three months old and have a fever, or who have other diseases and are assessed to require hospitalization for treatment by a doctor will be admitted to the hospital.

B. Enhanced government quarantine facilities/quarantine hotels: asymptomatic/mild cases who are 70 years of age and older, who aged 65-69 and live alone, who are 36 weeks pregnant or more, who are 3-12 months old and have a fever over 39ºC, or who don't require hospitalization and don't meet home care criteria are all admitted to enhanced government quarantine facilities/quarantine hotels.

C. Home care: individuals with no/mild symptoms who are under 69 years of age and meet home care criteria may stay at home to receive care. Confirmed cases with no or mild symptoms who don't meet home care criteria can be allowed to receive care at home if confirmed cases themselves or their legal representatives request home care and after medical professionals' assessments.

D. A special access channel has been established at enhanced government quarantine facilities/quarantine hotels to provide care in an emergency childbirth situation, for children, or other situations and to ensure patients' safety.

E. Principles for discharge and home care: Patients not meeting the criteria for being released from isolation will be sent back home to receive home care until the end of the isolation period if the health criteria provided in the Guidelines for Home Care Management of Confirmed COVID-19 Cases are met; such patients will be sent to enhanced government quarantine facilities/quarantine hotels if those health criteria are not met.

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