Indoor Mask Mandate Lift Announcement Today... "May Need to Wear Again If Cases Rise"

[Asia Economy Reporter Byeon Seon-jin] The government will announce the timing for lifting the indoor mask mandate on the 20th. Currently, COVID-19 indicators such as confirmed cases, critically ill patients, and deaths are steadily decreasing, indicating a stabilization of quarantine measures, making it an appropriate time to ease restrictions.

7th Wave Continues to Decline

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 20th, as of midnight on the 19th, the number of new COVID-19 cases was 29,816, which is 14,133 fewer than the 43,949 cases reported a week earlier on the 12th. This marks the lowest number of cases in 13 weeks since October 20 last year (25,375 cases), showing a clear decline in the '7th wave.'

Despite the decrease in COVID-19 cases, the number of critically ill patients, which had been increasing, is also easing. The number of critically ill patients is 465, down by 25 from the previous day (490). The average daily number of critically ill patients over the past week (January 13?19) was 497, a decrease of 37 (6.9%) compared to the previous week (January 6?12, 534). The intensive care unit (ICU) bed occupancy rate was 30.6% as of 5 p.m. on the 18th, with 1,085 out of 1,563 beds available. The daily death toll was 47, with the recent weekly average at 41 deaths, a decrease of 15 (26.8%) from the previous week (56).

Indoor Mask Wearing Notice / Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Announcement of Indoor Mask Mandate Lift Timing on the 20th

Im Suk-young, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters Situation Team, stated at a regular briefing on the 18th, "We believe that three out of the four evaluation indicators for adjusting the indoor mask mandate have been met." Except for the vaccination rate among high-risk groups during winter, the three indicators?number of confirmed cases, critically ill patients, and ICU bed availability?are stable, satisfying the government's condition of meeting at least two indicators.

The government will announce the timing for lifting the indoor mask mandate on the morning of the 20th through the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters. The National Infectious Disease Crisis Response Advisory Committee, which advises on quarantine policies, met on the 17th, and there was consensus to delay the lifting until after the Lunar New Year holiday. This is due to concerns that lifting the indoor mask mandate during the nationwide active movement over the Lunar New Year holiday could become a variable for virus spread.

The government reportedly deliberated until the last moment whether to set the lifting date on Monday, the usual start day for quarantine policy application (the 30th), or on February 1, when the month changes. As a result, to maintain consistency in quarantine policy implementation, lifting on the 30th is strongly considered.

Many countries worldwide have already lifted indoor mask mandates or only require masks in certain vulnerable facilities. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's survey of mask mandate statuses in 30 major countries including OECD members, 11 countries including Denmark, Slovenia, T?rkiye, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States, Argentina, South Africa, and Japan have no mask mandate policies. In 17 countries such as Italy and Australia, masks are required only in certain spaces, but medical facilities universally mandate mask-wearing. Requirements for public transportation and social welfare facilities vary by country. For example, Greece and Germany require masks in all such places, while Italy and Belgium leave it voluntary.

"Even After Indoor Mask Mandate is Lifted, Continued Use is Recommended"

Masks that were once sold out due to high demand
[Image source=Yonhap News]

In South Korea, lifting the indoor mask mandate does not mean complete freedom; masks will be voluntarily removed in places like cafes and restaurants but must continue to be worn in medical facilities and public transportation. The government continues to recommend mask-wearing even where it is no longer mandatory. Additionally, if infections surge after lifting the indoor mask mandate, the government plans to retain the option to reinstate mandatory mask-wearing.