Concerns Over Confusion in Subway Mask Guidelines... Seoul City Strengthens Promotion

Inside Trains: Mandatory Wearing, Platforms: Recommended

On the 19th, when new COVID-19 cases surged to over 70,000 in a single day, signaling the start of a new wave, commuters wearing masks were seen moving through Gwanghwamun Station in the Seoul subway during the morning rush hour. According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, as of midnight that day, 73,582 new cases were reported. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 27th that it will strengthen public awareness campaigns as confusion is expected in the subway following the lifting of the indoor mask-wearing mandate.

In line with the government's adjustment of the indoor mask-wearing mandate, the city will implement the "Administrative Order to Comply with Mask-Wearing Quarantine Guidelines for COVID-19 Response" starting from the 30th. Accordingly, residents and visitors in Seoul must wear masks indoors on public transportation, in nursing hospitals, and medical institutions even after the indoor mask mandate is lifted from the 30th. The mandatory mask-wearing facilities include three types of infection-vulnerable facilities (nursing hospitals and long-term care facilities, mental health promotion facilities, welfare facilities for the disabled), medical institutions and pharmacies, subways, buses, taxis, etc. Violations may result in fines.

To reduce confusion caused by the adjustment of the mask-wearing mandate, the city will cooperate with district offices to strengthen on-site guidance and public awareness campaigns. In particular, while mask-wearing will be recommended in subway station waiting areas and platforms, the mandate will remain inside the trains, raising concerns about confusion. The city plans to attach promotional posters on information boards at all subway stations and frequently broadcast announcements inside stations and trains to intensively promote the updated quarantine guidelines. Subway security officers and safety personnel will conduct mask-wearing guidance activities inside trains.

Regarding medical institutions and pharmacies, the city has established an on-site inspection plan from the 30th to the 10th of next month to guide and promote the continued mask-wearing mandate and to check and encourage compliance. For infection-vulnerable facilities, the city will actively provide promotional materials, educate facility workers and users, and visit sites for guidance if necessary.

The city will also publish online news in a Q&A format addressing citizens' confusion and provide information through the Seoul city website, social media, and video boards in public transportation media. Additionally, to increase the COVID-19 booster vaccination rate, district offices will operate "Vaccination Days" at least twice a month and implement "visiting vaccination" services. For mandatory mask-wearing facilities such as nursing hospitals, long-term care facilities, mental health facilities, and welfare facilities for the disabled, weekly monitoring of vaccination rates and on-site management will be conducted concurrently.

Park Yumi, Director of the Seoul City Citizen Health Bureau, said, "For everyone's safety, please be sure to wear masks in mandatory mask-wearing facilities," and added, "We recommend that high-risk groups such as seniors aged 60 and over and residents of infection-vulnerable facilities receive additional vaccinations during the winter season."