Discussion Intensifies at Today’s Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Meeting Led by Prime Minister
"Establish Objective Indicators and Criteria, Recommend and Transition to Voluntary When Met"
Type 2 Vaccine Infection Prevention Effectiveness Over 50%... Mandatory Vaccination for Those Aged 60 and Above
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is delivering opening remarks at the Government Seoul Office on the 9th during the meeting of related ministers on the 'Cargo Solidarity Collective Transport Refusal' and the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting for COVID-19. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] As the winter resurgence of COVID-19 continues, the government has decided to establish and finalize criteria for lifting the indoor mask-wearing mandate within this month.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo stated in his opening remarks at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting held at the Government Seoul Office on the 9th, "We will prepare objective indicators and criteria to evaluate the quarantine situation, and once these are met, we will transition the indoor mask-wearing mandate to a recommendation or voluntary compliance."
Prime Minister Han added, "We plan to consider trends in confirmed cases, severe cases, and deaths," and said, "The specific judgment criteria will be finalized through public forums and advisory committee discussions, and confirmed at the CDSCH meeting within this month."
The quarantine authorities are reviewing recent epidemic conditions such as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, severe patients, deaths, and winter vaccination rates. They plan to set standards for places where mask mandates can be lifted and for infection-vulnerable facilities where mask-wearing must continue. If certain criteria are met, the indoor mask mandate will be lifted. Alongside this, they are also considering easing penalties such as fines for not wearing masks and promoting voluntary compliance.
Starting from the 15th, after public forums and expert opinion gathering related to mask mandate lifting, the final review by the National Infectious Disease Crisis Response Advisory Committee will be conducted, and adjustment measures will be finalized and announced within the year.
Prime Minister Han particularly emphasized the importance of the bivalent vaccine (updated vaccine) inoculation as a key condition to expedite the lifting of the mask mandate. Although the bivalent vaccine inoculation rate has steadily increased to 24.1% among those aged 60 and over and 36.8% among infection-vulnerable facilities, it has not yet reached the target rates of 50% for those aged 60 and over and 60% for infection-vulnerable facilities.
Prime Minister Han said, "According to studies from the United States and the United Kingdom, the infection prevention effect of the bivalent vaccine group is confirmed to be more than 50% higher compared to the group vaccinated with the existing vaccine," and urged, "Especially those aged 60 and over must participate in vaccination."
From the 12th, the bivalent vaccine eligibility will be expanded to those aged 12 and older. Bivalent vaccination is strongly recommended for high-risk adolescents such as immunocompromised individuals and those with underlying diseases.
Prime Minister Han stated, "There have been various opinions regarding the indoor mask-wearing mandate, and there have been many discussions within the government as well," emphasizing, "The unchanging principle is that the life and safety of the people remain the top priority of quarantine policy."
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