Outdoor Mask Mandate Lifted After 1 Year and 6 Months
Wearing Masks on Streets, Removing Masks in Cafes
Experts: "Government Needs Sufficient Communication Process"
Even on the first day of lifting the outdoor mask mandate on the 2nd, citizens commuting at Dongmyoap Station in Seoul are waiting for the subway wearing masks. / Photo by Gong Byung-seon mydillon@
"The doors are opening." As the subway doors opened at Jonggak Station in Seoul, office workers wearing masks poured out. They stepped onto the street still wearing their masks and walked to their respective companies. Some office workers, even while holding coffee on the street, either did not drink it or briefly lifted their masks to take a sip. Just like during the COVID-19 pandemic, whenever they met acquaintances, citizens greeted each other with a 'fist bump' instead of a handshake to ask about each other's well-being.
Although the outdoor mask mandate was lifted on the 2nd after one and a half years, citizens still wore masks. The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) judged that masks were not required not only on the streets but also at weddings, outdoor subway platforms, amusement parks, and other locations, yet citizens continued to remain cautious about COVID-19.
Citizens welcomed the mask mandate lifting itself. Office worker Hwang (31) said, "Remote work has ended, summer is approaching, and I was feeling stifled," adding, "I feel that the COVID-19 era is coming to an end." Some citizens walked the streets without masks. Near Gongpyeong-dong in Seoul, about two people walked while talking on the phone without masks. Choi (27), who commuted without a mask, said, "The outdoor mask mandate was an unnecessary policy," and added, "I think there is no risk of spread if people keep distance while walking."
Nevertheless, most citizens still remained cautious about COVID-19. Around 7:30 a.m. near Gwanghwamun Station in Seoul, office workers wore masks while commuting. Those getting off subways and buses also headed to their workplaces wearing masks. Office worker Kim (42) said, "Since you have to wear a mask anyway when taking public transportation, I keep wearing it," and added, "Once the heatwave comes, people will gradually take off their masks." Job seeker Jung (27) said, "It would be troublesome if I caught COVID-19 after taking off my mask and it affected my interviews," and added, "I will not take off my mask until COVID-19 is completely over."
On the contrary, it was not uncommon to see citizens taking off masks indoors. Among 15 citizens drinking coffee at a cafe near Gongpyeong-dong, six were conversing without masks. At a cafe located in Gwanghwamun, two out of ten people sitting alone took off their masks while working or talking on the phone. Even the cafe staff did not specifically prohibit wearing masks indoors after seeing this scene. However, they recommended wearing masks when ordering drinks without properly wearing them.
Experts point out that the government's policy has fundamentally lost trust. Because the government warned that COVID-19 was dangerous until now but suddenly lifted quarantine measures, citizens still remain cautious about COVID-19. Masanghyuk, Chair of the Infection Control Committee at the Gyeongnam Medical Association, said, "The current government's decision to suddenly lift quarantine measures can be seen as a 'gift' for citizens at the end of its term," adding, "Without sufficient persuasion and communication, citizens will not act as the government intends."
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