The Medical Community Also Says "Take Off Indoor Masks"... When Will the Mask Mandate Be Lifted?

The Most Likely Time to Lift Restrictions Is 'Next Spring' After the 7th Wave Ends
More Than Half of the Public Say, "Let's Lift the Indoor Mask Mandate"

On the morning of the 26th of last month, when the outdoor mask-wearing mandate was fully lifted, a commuter walking through Gwanghwamun Square was seen holding a mask in hand.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Following the full lifting of the outdoor mask-wearing mandate at the end of last month, calls are emerging to also lift the mandatory mask-wearing measures indoors.

The medical community is also urging the removal of the indoor mask mandate. On the 6th, the Gwangju Medical Association issued a statement asserting, "In line with the easing of COVID-19 responses, measures that restrict basic rights such as mandatory indoor mask-wearing and isolation upon confirmation should be discontinued." They added, "There is no longer any social benefit to be gained from excessive quarantine measures," emphasizing that "especially the health rights and educational rights of young students are being seriously infringed upon."

On the 26th of last month, the Gyeonggi-do Medical Association also pointed out, "Among OECD countries, South Korea is the only one maintaining mandatory indoor mask-wearing in all places, thereby restricting citizens' basic rights. Moreover, these measures are applied even more strictly to students, resulting in serious infringements on their health and educational rights." They further stated, "In situations where free congregation is allowed in enclosed spaces such as restaurants, cafes, and pubs, there is no academic rationality to continue enforcing mask mandates on children based on selective and irrational risk claims."

The issue of 'children's health and educational rights being infringed by mask-wearing,' highlighted by the two medical associations, has also been raised multiple times in educational settings. There are concerns that prolonged mask-wearing during the sensitive early childhood period, when language acquisition and emotional development occur, may negatively affect development. According to a survey conducted in May last year by the educational civic group 'Society Without Private Education Worries' and Rep. Jeong Chun-sook of the Democratic Party of Korea, targeting directors, teachers, and parents of public and private daycare centers in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, 74.9% of directors and teachers and 52.7% of parents responded that mask use reduced opportunities for language exposure and development.

Experts also believe that mask mandates should be lifted starting from early childhood. Professor Jeong Jae-hoon of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Gachon University College of Medicine said on the CBS radio program 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the 19th of last month, "We are hearing from education field experts that many problems are arising in children's education, especially in language and facial expressions," adding, "When weighing the pros and cons of mask-wearing, the cons may outweigh the pros for children."

On the afternoon of the 26th of last month, when the outdoor mask mandate was fully lifted, children who visited the main stadium of Hwaseong Sports Complex in Gyeonggi-do, where the Olympic football team evaluation match between Korea and Uzbekistan was held, took off their masks and cheered enthusiastically. [Image source=Yonhap News]

However, health authorities are taking a cautious stance. They plan to gradually ease mandatory measures following the seventh wave of COVID-19.

The most likely timing for lifting the indoor mask mandate is next spring. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) stated in the 'Major Work Progress' report presented at the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee's audit on the 5th, "We plan to discuss adjustment plans regarding the criteria, scope, and timing of the indoor mask mandate through consultations with the National Infectious Disease Crisis Response Advisory Committee," adding, "We are currently discussing a phased easing direction after the winter epidemic."

Lee Ki-il, the 2nd Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, also appeared on 'KBS News 9' on the 2nd, describing this winter as a critical period due to the simultaneous spread of COVID-19 and seasonal flu. Since masks are an effective means of preventing respiratory diseases, it is difficult to hastily lift the mandate. The Vice Minister said, "Next spring could bring a daily life without masks," and "The current wave is almost at its end."

Meanwhile, a survey showed that more than half of the public (55.0%) support lifting the indoor mask mandate. This result comes from a survey conducted on the 29th of last month by a research team led by Professor Yoo Myung-soon of Seoul National University Graduate School of Public Health, targeting 1,000 adult men and women nationwide regarding public perceptions of the indoor mask mandate. Those who responded that lifting the mandate is impossible accounted for 41.8%.