No Masks on Public Transport from the 20th
Avoid Phone Calls and Conversations in Enclosed Spaces
Cover Nose and Mouth with Sleeve When Coughing
The mask-wearing mandate on subways, taxis, and other public transportation, which began during the large-scale COVID-19 outbreak, was lifted on the 20th. As the focus of the quarantine system shifts to voluntary measures, personal prevention has become more important. To prevent droplet spread in enclosed public transportation, people should refrain from talking or making phone calls, and cover their nose and mouth with their sleeves or clothing when coughing or sneezing.
According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on the 20th, the mask-wearing mandate was lifted from that day onward on public transportation and in pharmacies located inside supermarkets and stations. This is the first time in about two years and five months since October 2020 that the mask mandate on public transportation has been removed. However, masks must still be worn in medical institutions, pharmacies, and infection-vulnerable facilities where COVID-19 confirmed or suspected cases and high-risk groups are likely to visit.
The health authorities decided to lift the mask mandate on public transportation considering that the COVID-19 outbreak has remained stable even after the indoor mask mandate was adjusted to a recommendation at the end of January, and that voluntary mask-wearing is being practiced.
On the 20th, when the mandatory mask-wearing on public transportation was lifted, most passengers at the Yeouido Bus Transfer Center in Seoul were using the bus while wearing masks. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@
The issue is that caution is still necessary as about 10,000 confirmed cases occur daily on average. Although the COVID-19 virus has undergone mutations such as Alpha, Delta, and Omicron, gradually weakening its virulence, it remains a deadly virus compared to the common cold and flu. As of the 20th, the number of COVID-19 deaths has exceeded 34,000.
With the shift to a voluntary quarantine policy, individuals need to pay more attention to personal prevention. The health authorities also emphasized that wearing masks is the most basic protective measure against respiratory infectious diseases like COVID-19 and recommended using masks when using public transportation during crowded times.
Especially inside public transportation, people must observe 'no-mask' manners. Since it is a confined space where people are close together, droplets can spread instantly. According to a 2021 study by researchers at Sejong University commissioned by the Central Disease Control Headquarters, droplets generated when a person without a mask coughs can spread throughout a 73㎡ (22.2-pyeong) space within 110 seconds.
The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Photo by Pixabay [Image source=Pixabay]
Droplets also spread during conversations, not just coughing or sneezing. According to a study by the University of Oregon research team in May 2020, during the early large-scale COVID-19 outbreak, simulations showed that in enclosed spaces like public transportation, using a phone or talking without wearing a mask caused a significant amount of fine droplets to be transmitted to the person opposite in a short time.
To reduce droplet transmission, when coughing or sneezing, use tissues or handkerchiefs to cover your mouth to prevent droplets from scattering. If no cloth is available to cover your mouth, use the inside of your elbow sleeve to cover your mouth and nose. Washing hands with soap for more than 30 seconds after coughing or sneezing helps prevent infectious diseases. Also, inside public transportation, avoid activities that generate droplets such as talking or making phone calls.
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