[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] As Mayor Lee Jang-woo of Daejeon sent an official letter to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, reigniting discussions on lifting indoor mask mandates, Governor Kim Tae-heum of Chungnam Province also instructed a review of the related matters on the 5th.
Governor Kim said at the morning meeting of department heads, "Most countries do not wear masks indoors after recent business trips to the US and Europe," adding, "Relevant departments should proceed with reviewing the voluntary indoor mask policy through consultations with the Central Countermeasures Headquarters."
Earlier, Daejeon City sparked controversy by sending an official letter to the COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters stating, "If the government does not lift the indoor mask mandate by the 15th, we will issue our own administrative order to enforce it."
Mayor Lee appeared on MBC Radio's "Kim Jong-bae's Focus" that day and said, "Currently, public awareness regarding voluntary quarantine in Daejeon is changing. Considering the formal indoor mask-wearing issue, concerns about child development, and the fact that most OECD countries do not require masks, we believe it is right to fully transition to a voluntary quarantine system allowing citizens to decide for themselves."
Regarding high-risk groups and infection-vulnerable facilities, Mayor Lee added, "We are also discussing maintaining the indoor mask mandate in high-risk hospitals, infection-vulnerable facilities, nursing homes, and psychiatric care facilities."
Mayor Lee believes that Daejeon's measures do not pose legal issues. He said, "Legally, we believe we can act independently," and added, "While it is appropriate to closely consult with the Central Countermeasures Headquarters and the national level on this matter, under the local autonomy system, the mayor of a city or province commands the administrative system and bears responsibility, so it is right to leave this decision to the mayor's judgment." He continued, "We will consult with the Central Countermeasures Headquarters as much as possible, but currently, we have a firm intention to allow voluntary decisions starting around January 1 (next year)."
Mayor Lee has advocated lifting indoor mask mandates since October. At an expanded executive meeting on October 4, he said, "Currently, masks can be removed outdoors but are mandatory indoors, which is ineffective," and added, "I think indoor mask-wearing should be left to individual discretion." He also said, "In the US and Europe, masks are removed both indoors and outdoors, and recently, when I went on a business trip to Turkey, they had lifted mask mandates long ago," urging, "The responsible department should have in-depth discussions with the Central Disaster Countermeasures Headquarters."
Before taking office as mayor earlier this year, he filed a lawsuit to lift the 'quarantine pass.' At that time, Mayor Lee, along with 191 Daejeon citizens, filed an injunction lawsuit against the former mayor of Daejeon, arguing that the quarantine pass excessively infringed on citizens' basic rights and threatened the livelihoods of small business owners. However, the injunction lawsuit was temporarily postponed after the government temporarily suspended the quarantine pass on March 1.
Regarding Daejeon's recent actions, a Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters official said, "In the past, when easing quarantine measures, the Central Headquarters and local governments have operated through prior consultations," adding, "We will specify the timing for easing mask mandates through the first expert public forum scheduled for the 15th."
As of the 5th, the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases is showing a weekly decline. Last week (from November 28 to December 4, as of midnight), the weekly number of COVID-19 confirmed cases decreased by 8,122 from the previous week, totaling 370,657 cases. The weekly confirmed cases had increased for six consecutive weeks since the second week of October but decreased for the first time this week.
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