COVID-19 Situation Stabilizes... "No Major Issues Expected with Public Transport Mask Removal on the 20th"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The government’s decision to lift the mask-wearing mandate on public transportation such as buses and subways starting on the 20th is interpreted as a result of the continued decline in COVID-19 cases even after the adjustment to level 1. Han Chang-seop, the 2nd Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) for COVID-19 (acting Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety), announced at the CDSCH meeting that day, "From the 20th, the mask-wearing mandate will be additionally lifted for public transportation, large facilities such as marts and stations, and open-type pharmacies inside these facilities."

Im Sook-young, Director of the Situation Management Office at the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH), explained, "Even after the adjustment to level 1 mandates, the decrease in COVID-19 cases has been maintained, and considering the high willingness to wear masks indoors even without mandates, the mask-wearing requirement on public transportation has been lifted." According to the CDCH, the weekly new confirmed cases for the second week of March (5th?11th) were 70,404, a 7.4% increase compared to the previous week (65,525), but this is considered a level that can be sufficiently managed with current quarantine capabilities. The average daily number of critically ill patients decreased by 2.6% from 150 the previous week to 146, and the number of deaths remained the same at 11. The weekly COVID-19 risk level nationwide, in the metropolitan area, and in non-metropolitan areas has been maintained at 'low' for five consecutive weeks.

Due to the continued stabilization of COVID-19, it will be the first time in two years and five months since October 13, 2020, when the government mandated mask-wearing, that masks will no longer be required on public transportation. Mask-wearing in medical facilities and infection-vulnerable facilities will be maintained for the time being, but the inconvenience caused by mask-wearing for the general public is expected to disappear.

The lifting of mask mandates for the remaining facilities is scheduled to take place along with adjustments to the crisis level and infectious disease classification following the World Health Organization (WHO)’s discussions on lifting the COVID-19 emergency status in April or May. The government will finalize and announce a roadmap for the remaining quarantine measures, including the seven-day isolation for confirmed cases, within this month.

Im Sook-young, Director of the Situation Management Office at the CDCH, stated, "Even after the additional adjustment on the 20th, we recommend that people voluntarily wear masks when using crowded public transportation during rush hours, and employees of open-type pharmacies inside large facilities also voluntarily wear masks."