Gyeongnam Province Allows No Mask Wearing on Public Transport and in Marts Starting from the 20th

Excluding General Pharmacies, Medical Institutions, and Residential Infection-Vulnerable Facilities

Government Plans to Announce Revised Quarantine Guidelines and Amendments

Gyeongsangnam-do announced on the 16th that the indoor mask-wearing mandate has been further adjusted.

According to government guidelines, starting from the 20th, masks will no longer be required on public transportation and in open pharmacies within large facilities such as marts and stations that do not have walls or partitions.

General pharmacies will maintain the mask-wearing mandate considering the likelihood of use by individuals with suspected infections and high-risk groups.

Infection-vulnerable facilities such as nursing hospitals, long-term care institutions, mental health promotion facilities, and welfare facilities for the disabled, including residential facilities, as well as medical institutions and pharmacies, must continue to require mask-wearing as before.

The government judged that the stable quarantine situation has continued with a decrease in the average daily number of confirmed cases and new critically ill patients until the 15th of this month, following the first phase adjustment of the indoor mask-wearing mandate implemented on January 30.

Considering the high willingness to wear masks even without a mandate, revised quarantine guidelines adjusting the indoor mask-wearing mandate will be issued starting next Monday.

Gyeongnam Provincial Government Office.
Photo by Lee Seryeong

Gyeongsangnam-do plans to complete administrative procedures, including announcing the revised quarantine guidelines, by the 17th and proceed with the additional adjustment of the indoor mask-wearing mandate.

An official from the province stated, “Wearing a mask is the most basic means of protecting oneself from many respiratory infectious diseases, including COVID-19. Even if the indoor mask-wearing mandate is lifted, we ask that people voluntarily wear masks when using crowded public transportation during commuting hours or when working in open pharmacies within large facilities.”

They added, “We hope everyone will actively participate in the voluntary practice and habitualization of quarantine rules to move closer to a stable recovery of daily life.”