"Too Early" vs "Finally Lifted?"... Will Outdoor 'No Mask' Be Realized?

Government "Considering lifting all COVID-19 measures except indoor masks after 2 weeks of stability"
Mixed feelings of hope and concern ahead of outdoor no-mask policy

Office workers are heading to work wearing masks on Gangnam-daero in Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] "The mask feels suffocating, so I want to take it off quickly.", "Even outdoors, confirmed cases continue, so isn't it premature to lift the mask mandate?"

As the mandatory outdoor mask-wearing may be lifted as early as the 18th, both anticipation and concerns are emerging simultaneously. Since the weather is getting warmer and several studies have already shown that the risk of infection outdoors is low, many people are welcoming the lifting of the outdoor mask mandate. On the other hand, some citizens who have become accustomed to wearing masks for over two years since the COVID-19 pandemic are feeling anxious about the lifting of the mask mandate due to concerns about infection risks. Some opinions suggest that even if the outdoor mask mandate is lifted, people will continue to wear masks for a while.

Recently, the government announced that if the COVID-19 outbreak clearly declines during the two-week easing of social distancing measures, all quarantine measures except indoor mask-wearing can be lifted.

At a regular briefing on the 1st, Kwon Deok-cheol, Minister of Health and Welfare, said, "If the downward trend continues for the next two weeks and the medical system remains stable, we will ultimately lift all quarantine regulations except for indoor mask-wearing, including business hours, private gatherings, and large-scale events, transitioning to a system closer to normal life."

This implies that once social distancing is lifted, people will be able to freely gather or attend events as before the COVID-19 pandemic, but masks will still need to be worn indoors.

On the 4th, as the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases shows a gradual decline, citizens visiting the temporary screening clinic set up at Seoul City Hall Plaza in Jung-gu, Seoul, are waiting to be tested. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Among them, many people have expressed hope that they can take off masks outdoors. Kim (24), a university student, said, "There are already many people who take off masks and talk indoors in places like cafes or restaurants. So, continuing to mandate mask-wearing doesn't seem appropriate in the current situation. The mask mandate should be gradually lifted starting outdoors."

Relatedly, research results have shown that the possibility of COVID-19 infection outdoors is significantly lower than indoors. Jin-young Moon, a resident in occupational and environmental medicine at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University, and Byung-han Ryu, a clinical professor in infectious diseases at Changwon Gyeongsang National University Hospital, reviewed 59,179 international academic papers published until December 2020 on the risk of respiratory disease infection in indoor spaces and conducted a meta-analysis of 147 final studies.

The COVID-19 virus showed a 4.08 times higher transmission risk indoors compared to open spaces, with particularly high risk in residential spaces (8.30 times) and airplanes (7.30 times). In other words, the risk of COVID-19 transmission is much higher indoors than in open spaces.

However, there are also criticisms that lifting the outdoor mask mandate is premature. Go (27), an office worker, said, "An acquaintance was infected with COVID-19 a month ago and said it was very tough. They had muscle pain all over their body and a persistent cough that kept them from sleeping at night." He added, "Even if I can take off my mask outdoors, I am afraid of getting infected with COVID-19, so I will probably continue wearing it for now."

He continued, "Also, if masks can be taken off outdoors but must be worn indoors, it might cause confusion. Especially when going out to convenience stores near home, some people will definitely try to go out without masks. Then, many people might ride elevators without masks, which worries me."

At the Gwangju Buk-gu screening clinic, public health center medical staff are lining up rapid antigen test kits and checking for any adverse reactions. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. Photo by Yonhap News.

According to the current mask-wearing guidelines, masks are mandatory indoors. However, during outdoor activities such as walking in parks, cycling, or hiking, masks do not need to be worn if a distance of more than 2 meters from others can be maintained.

However, since maintaining a 2-meter distance on the street is practically ambiguous and it is often impossible to keep distance in public places, people have had no choice but to wear masks both indoors and outdoors.

The government had previously announced two plans for outdoor no-mask policies, but both were canceled.

In July last year, as part of the 'vaccine incentive,' outdoor no-mask was allowed for first-dose recipients but was withdrawn after four days due to the fourth wave of the pandemic. Also, in November last year, the government considered allowing masks to be taken off outdoors in December as part of the 'gradual recovery plan,' but it was canceled due to a surge in confirmed cases.

Meanwhile, authorities are taking a somewhat cautious stance on lifting the outdoor mask mandate.

Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, said in an interview on TBS Radio's "Kim Eo-jun's News Factory" on the 4th, "The priority is more on lifting restrictions on business hours, private gathering sizes, and large-scale events rather than the mask issue." He added, "If the situation regarding severe cases and deaths remains stable after two weeks, we plan to continue lifting social distancing measures and transition to a normal life system."