Government to Decide on Indoor Mask Removal on the 20th

Daily Average Number of Confirmed Cases Decreases for 3 Consecutive Weeks

Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min is presiding over the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on COVID-19 held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 18th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] The government has judged that the winter resurgence of COVID-19 is stabilizing and announced its intention to decide on lifting indoor mask mandates on the 20th.

Lee Sang-min, the 2nd Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) for COVID-19 and Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, stated on the 18th, "As the COVID-19 outbreak has passed its peak, the overall quarantine situation is stabilizing," adding, "We will comprehensively consider domestic quarantine conditions and external factors such as the spread of new variants, and decide on the schedule and scope for adjusting indoor mask mandates at the next CDSCH meeting."

According to the CDSCH, the average daily number of confirmed cases is currently in the 42,000 range, decreasing for three consecutive weeks. Additionally, the weekly number of new critically ill patients is 439, marking the lowest in five weeks.

Along with this, the government plans to consider this Lunar New Year holiday as the last critical point and intends to thoroughly enforce quarantine measures. First, 9,650 quarantine personnel will be deployed at highway rest areas, and congestion information at rest areas will be provided in advance.

Minister Lee said, "There are concerns that the COVID-19 situation may worsen again due to increased face-to-face contact and mobility during the Lunar New Year holiday," and urged, "Citizens aged 60 and over who have not yet received the additional winter vaccination are strongly encouraged to complete their vaccination before the Lunar New Year holiday."

He continued, "Citizens aged 60 and over who have not yet received the additional winter vaccination are strongly encouraged to complete their vaccination before the Lunar New Year holiday."