Stable COVID-19 Control Despite Indoor Mask Mandate Lifted... "Not the Time to Lower Our Guard"

Minsu Park, the 1st Chief Coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (2nd Vice Minister of Health and Welfare), is presiding over the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on the 3rd.
[Photo by Ministry of Health and Welfare]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] Despite adjustments to the indoor mask-wearing mandate, COVID-19 domestic quarantine indicators remain stable. The health authorities emphasized that since the World Health Organization (WHO) has maintained the COVID-19 public health emergency, it is not yet time to lower vigilance and urged continued adherence to daily quarantine guidelines.

Park Min-su, the 1st General Coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) and Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, stated in the CDSCH meeting opening remarks on the 3rd, "Despite the Lunar New Year holiday and adjustments to the indoor mask-wearing mandate, the quarantine situation is generally stable."

Park explained, "As of midnight today, the number of confirmed cases is about 15,000, a 53% decrease compared to the previous week," and "the infection reproduction number is 0.75, remaining below 1 for four consecutive weeks." He added, "Last week, the number of new critically ill patients was 308, decreasing for three consecutive weeks, and the hospital bed occupancy rate is 17.6%, indicating sufficient capacity." Among short-term entrants from China, 5 out of 286 tested positive the previous day, resulting in a positivity rate of 1.7%.

He emphasized that public participation and cooperation from local governments are crucial to maintaining the current stability. He said, "Wearing masks in vulnerable facilities, public transportation, and hospitals, as well as practicing handwashing and ventilation, please adhere well to daily quarantine guidelines," and "local governments should continuously provide guidance and publicity to prevent confusion at the field level regarding indoor mask-wearing."

He added, "The WHO's decision this week to maintain the international public health emergency means it is not yet time to relax vigilance," and "the government will continue to operate the quarantine and medical response system without gaps, including monitoring new variants, blocking overseas inflows, and managing treatment beds."