[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] From the 30th, indoor mask-wearing will be adjusted from mandatory to 'recommended' except in some facilities such as medical institutions and public transportation.
According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, from that day, the obligation to wear masks indoors will be changed to a recommendation. This ends the government-level mask-wearing mandate introduced in October 2020 after 2 years and 3 months.
This measure was taken as the winter resurgence of COVID-19 has turned to a decline, and the number of severe cases and deaths has stabilized. However, the obligation to wear masks will remain in medical institutions such as hospitals and pharmacies, vulnerable facilities, and public transportation.
However, the health authorities strongly recommend that high-risk groups such as those aged 60 and over and people in '3밀' (close contact, crowded places, and enclosed spaces) environments continue to wear masks, as indoor mask-wearing is left to individual discretion.
Although the indoor mask mandate has been lifted, some confusion is expected during the initial implementation. Meanwhile, several surveys show that the number of respondents who do not intend to remove masks is higher than those who do, raising expectations that the transition will be smooth over time rather than causing immediate significant changes.
The lifting of the indoor mask mandate is interpreted as a step closer to 'normal recovery.' With the lifting of social distancing and outdoor mask mandates as part of phased measures, the only remaining quarantine measure is the 7-day isolation for confirmed cases. The timing for lifting the isolation requirement for confirmed cases is expected to be discussed when the World Health Organization (WHO) declares the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
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