"Take Off Masks" vs "Still Worried"... What Do You Think About 'No Masks Outdoors'?

Conflicting Public Opinions on 'Outdoor Mask Mandate Lift'
Yoon Transition Team "Considering 'Outdoor Mask Free' Declaration in Late May"
Citizens Complain of Discomfort Wearing Masks Amid Unexpected Heatwave
Concerns Over Resurgence Due to Ongoing COVID Spread and New Variant Emergence
Medical Community Says "Lifting Outdoor Mask Mandate Is Premature"

On the 15th, when the government decided to fully lift social distancing measures after 2 years and 1 month, office workers wearing masks were heading to work on Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Following the full lifting of social distancing measures, opinions are divided regarding the last remaining quarantine guideline: the mandatory wearing of masks outdoors. Some argue that "outdoor no mask" policies should be implemented before the hot and humid summer, while others believe that mandatory mask-wearing outdoors should continue for the time being to prevent another variant from emerging.

The quarantine authorities downgraded COVID-19's legal infectious disease classification from Level 1 to Level 2 starting on the 25th. Additionally, on the 18th, social distancing measures were fully lifted, and they announced plans to review the lifting of the outdoor mask mandate after monitoring the epidemic situation.

However, the transition team, which has repeatedly expressed concerns about lifting the outdoor mask mandate, announced that it would consider declaring an "outdoor mask-free" policy after the inauguration of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration. Transition Team Chairman Ahn Cheol-soo said, "We plan to assess the situation around late May and make a judgment," adding, "If the number of confirmed cases drops to levels similar to those in advanced foreign countries that have lifted outdoor mask mandates, it might be possible."

Citizens in favor of lifting the outdoor mask mandate have recently expressed discomfort with wearing masks as the heat intensifies. On the 26th, the highest temperature in Seoul approached 28 degrees Celsius, and summer-like hot weather has been observed this month. Since records began in 1907, there have been only 16 days in April when the daily maximum temperature in Seoul reached or exceeded 28 degrees Celsius.

Moreover, the early heat is expected to continue through the summer. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration's "Summer Climate Outlook," there is a 50% chance that the average summer temperature will be higher than the normal range (23.4?24.0 degrees Celsius). The KMA forecasted, "There will be times in June when daytime temperatures rise, causing heatwaves, and in July and August, the influence of the North Pacific High will often bring hot weather."

On the morning of the 24th, a citizen is moving to get tested at the COVID-19 testing site in Cheonggye Plaza, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the other hand, some believe it is still too early to lift the outdoor mask mandate. They argue that with confirmed cases continuing to emerge, there is a risk of virus spread or the appearance of another variant. According to the quarantine authorities on the 28th, as of midnight, there were 57,464 new confirmed cases. Although the number of confirmed cases has remained below 100,000 for the past eight days, leading to assessments that the COVID-19 spread is clearly declining, concerns remain that it is premature to make definitive judgments on the quarantine situation, especially as daily deaths still exceed 100.

The quarantine authorities are currently on alert regarding a variant virus rapidly spreading in the United States. The 'BA.2.12.1' variant, first detected in the U.S. in December last year, saw its share in the U.S. rise sharply from 6.9% on the 2nd of this month to 19.0% on the 16th, in just two weeks.

Lee Sang-won, head of the Epidemiological Investigation and Analysis Team at the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said at the COVID-19 regular briefing on the 26th, "The Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1 was first detected in the U.S. last December and has recently been rapidly replacing BA.2, increasing its share. There have been no detected cases in our country yet. However, we will remain vigilant and respond to the emergence of this and other variants."

Meanwhile, the medical community views the lifting of the outdoor mask mandate as premature due to concerns about a COVID-19 resurgence. The Korean Medical Association's COVID-19 Countermeasures Committee issued a public recommendation on the 26th, stating, "The government's announcement to lift the outdoor mask mandate is premature given the current domestic COVID-19 infection situation," and added, "A reconsideration is needed regarding the full lifting of the mandatory mask-wearing, which is the most basic personal protective equipment."

They further stated, "Mask-wearing is especially recommended in enclosed spaces or indoors, when meeting high-risk groups including the elderly, at gatherings, performances, events, or other crowded places, when meeting strangers outdoors, and when visiting medical institutions," emphasizing again, "COVID-19 has not yet been completely eradicated from our society."