In front of Exit 6 of Seoul National University Station around 11 a.m. on the 11th, despite the early summer weather reaching 20 degrees Celsius, 7 out of 10 people were wearing masks. When asked, the main reason given by citizens wearing masks was that they preferred to keep their masks on while using public transportation rather than the hassle of taking them off and putting them back on when boarding or alighting from the subway or bus. Park (22), who came by bus from Seoul Daehak-dong to meet friends, said, “If the mask mandate on public transportation is lifted, I won’t carry a mask in my pocket anymore,” adding, “I think I will only wear masks on days with severe fine dust like before.”
“Mask Mandate on Public Transportation May Be Lifted as Early as the 20th”
The government is set to lift the mask-wearing mandate on public transportation as early as the 20th, signaling the arrival of a ‘no mask era.’ Experts predict that once the mandate is lifted, mask-wearing rates on public transportation will drop significantly, marking the near completion of the return to normal life.
The government will announce the plan and timing to lift the mask mandate on public transportation after discussions at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on the 15th. This comes as COVID-19 cases have stabilized at around 10,000 daily on a weekly average basis, even after the first phase of easing mask requirements indoors such as in restaurants and cafes. A government official said, “Since previous infectious disease policies have typically been implemented on Mondays, the 20th is being strongly considered for enforcement.” Professor Baek Soon-young, emeritus professor at the Catholic University Medical School, stated, “After three years of COVID-19, most people have antibodies, so lifting the mask mandate should not pose significant problems.”
However, mask-wearing will likely remain mandatory in hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and facilities housing vulnerable populations. This is because COVID-19 remains a serious threat to high-risk groups who need protection. According to health authorities, during the week from February 26 to March 4, there were 80 COVID-19 deaths, with 92.6% occurring in those aged 60 and above (53.8% in those 80+, 23.8% in their 70s, and 15.0% in their 60s). The National Infectious Disease Crisis Response Advisory Committee, which advises the government on infectious disease policies, reportedly had many opinions against lifting the mandate in these facilities.
Once the mask mandate on public transportation is lifted, the only remaining quarantine measure for the general public will be the 7-day isolation requirement upon testing positive. The health authorities plan to adjust policies following the 15th COVID-19 Emergency Committee meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO) at the end of next month, which may declare the end of the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). If COVID-19, currently classified as a level 2 infectious disease, is downgraded to level 4 like influenza, isolation will become a recommendation rather than a requirement.
“COVID-19 Policies Should Focus on Protecting High-Risk Groups”
There is growing consensus that future COVID-19 policies should aim to minimize harm to high-risk groups. Since younger people tend to experience mild symptoms and may not even get tested when infected, Professor Baek Soon-young emphasized, “For high-risk groups, the focus should be on increasing COVID-19 vaccination and prescribing oral antiviral treatments to reduce their hospitalization rates.” Professor Jung Jae-hoon of Gachon University’s Department of Preventive Medicine added, “Although the return to normal life is in its final stages, high-risk groups still face exposure risks. Protecting these groups will allow COVID-19 to become a manageable infectious disease rather than an unknown threat to our society.”
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