South Koreas parliament has approved plans to provide a special time for Covid-19 patients to vote during the March 9 presidential election as the country grapples with a record-breaking Omicron surge, according to AP.

The proposed revision of an election-related law will take effect if it is endorsed by the Cabinet Council and signed by the president, steps widely considered a formality since the governing and opposition parties have already agreed on the measure.

Voters diagnosed with highly infectious diseases such as Covid-19 and others placed in quarantine would be allowed to visit polling stations and cast ballots after regular voting closes at 6pm, according to a copy of the legislation on the website of the National Assembly.