Pohang City, First Day of Mask Mandate Lift... Masks Still Required in Public Transport and Hospitals

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongguk Lee] On the 30th, Pohang City lifted the indoor mask mandate for most facilities except some, 27 months after the mask-wearing guideline was introduced in October 2020 to prevent the domestic spread of coronavirus infection.

Pohang City Hall.

With the mask-wearing obligation removed in most indoor facilities except for medical institutions and public transportation, the city urged caution regarding mask-wearing guidelines on the first day of implementation to reduce confusion among citizens.

First, mask-wearing obligations changed to "recommendations" in most places such as large marts, department stores, shopping malls, and educational and childcare facilities including schools, kindergartens, daycare centers, and academies.

At places where public transportation is used, such as train stations, bus stops, and airports, as well as exercise facilities like gyms and swimming pools, and senior centers, masks are no longer required.

However, the indoor mask mandate remains in place at some locations with high infection risk, including medical institutions, pharmacies, vulnerable infection facilities, and public transportation.

Vulnerable infection facilities include nursing hospitals, long-term care institutions, mental health promotion facilities, and welfare facilities for the disabled. Public transportation includes route buses, railroads, passenger ships, charter buses, taxis, and airplanes.

While mask-wearing is mandatory inside vulnerable infection facilities and medical institutions, it is not required in office buildings or research buildings where there is no entry of residents or patients. When in private spaces within the facility or hospital with resident caregivers or resident guardians, masks are not required, but masks must be worn in common areas or when with outsiders.

Mask-wearing at schools and kindergartens is left to individual discretion, but for school transportation vehicles, since they are included in charter buses, the mask mandate remains.

Additionally, masks can be removed inside large marts, but must be worn again when using pharmacies inside them. At train stations, masks can be removed in the waiting rooms, but must be worn when boarding the train.

Pohang City plans to actively promote mask-wearing even in places where the indoor mask mandate has been lifted in cases such as ▲suspected COVID-19 symptoms or being in a high-risk group ▲contact with a person suspected of symptoms or in a high-risk group ▲contact with confirmed cases within the last two weeks ▲environments with poor ventilation characterized by the 3Cs (close contact, crowded places, and confined spaces) ▲situations with many people densely gathered involving activities that generate droplets such as shouting, singing, or talking.

Mayor Kangdeok Lee said, “Although the indoor mask mandate has been lifted in most facilities except some, voluntary mask-wearing remains important depending on individual circumstances,” and added, “The city will continue efforts to protect high-risk groups, including maintaining hospital beds, to respond timely to COVID-19 uncertainties.”