Health authorities said they will review steps to establish a social system and culture that encourages COVID-19 patients to stay home, even if the government lifts quarantine requirements in the future.

Senior health ministry official Son Young-rae said on Monday that the implementation of such measures should be considered after patients are no longer legally obligated to go under a seven-day quarantine.

This comes as the government is set to decide whether to lift the requirement and make an announcement by Friday.

Experts had raised concerns over a potential resurgence of the virus should the quarantine mandate be suspended as COVID-19 patients may opt against voluntarily quarantining due to the possibility of facing disadvantages at school or at work.