The Health Ministry said reducing infections among those who have yet to receive vaccinations is key to transitioning back to normal daily routine even with the persistence of COVID-19.

Senior health ministry official Son Young-rae told the press Thursday that the common concern among countries seeking to return to normalcy is lowering the number of infections among the unvaccinated and protecting senior citizens. 

He explained that the new system of “with COVID-19” means shifting the focus to critically ill patients and deaths, stressing that lowering the infection rate among those who have not yet been inoculated is an important precondition. 

Son also said efforts must be made to minimize the number of unvaccinated people while drawing up measures to protect priority groups who have yet to receive their shots. 

He added that the vaccine pass system is under review as part of these discussions.