Experts Who Obey Mask Usage Rules In South Korea Can Be Revocational

Illustration of COVID-19 in South Korea. (Wikimedia Commons/Sharon Hahn Darlin)

JAKARTA - The rules for the use of indoor masks related to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been in effect for more than two years in South Korea, will most likely be removed by the end of January, following the Lunar New Year holiday which runs from January 21 to 24.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare will announce detailed steps on Friday, when and how the rules for wearing masks will be removed.

In the first phase of the gradual suspension, which is likely to start on January 30, wearing masks in public places is no longer mandatory, but only as a recommendation, except for high-risk facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes, and public transport.

The plan was discussed in an advisory panel meeting on government COVID-19 response measures held Tuesday afternoon.

During the meeting, medical experts overall agreed that it was time for Korea to remove mask rules because the country appears to have passed the peak of the current wave.

The indoor mask rule imposed in October 2020 is one of the last remaining COVID-19 restrictions in Korea. Another limitation is the 7-day isolation for people who are positive for COVID-19.

However, there are different views among experts on when the requirements should be lifted. Some suggested that the rule could be canceled right after the holiday starting January 25.

While others view the mandate should end on January 30 at the earliest, given the increase in travel during the Lunar New Year holidays.

It is known, the advisory panel expressed its opinion to the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Despite the recent downward trend in the number of infections and hospitalizations here, health authorities are cautious in lifting rules, due to the risk of infections entering from China.

However, in a briefing on Wednesday, health officials said the country had met the criteria to lift the rules for wearing masks.

"This country has met three of the four criteria that form the basis of our assessment, whether to remove the rules for wearing masks. And the panel of experts has assessed that the country has passed the peak of infection. Based on these opinions, we will announce detailed steps this Friday," said Lim Sook-young, a senior health official during the briefing., reported the Korea Times January 18th.

Earlier in December, the government announced plans to exit the mask rules, which will be carried out in two stages. In the first phase, masks are no longer a requirement in public places except for high-risk facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes, pharmacies and public transportation.

The state will enter the first phase if two of the four criteria are met. The four criteria are: the number of daily infections is stable and in particular, the number of infections continues to decline over a two-week period; a decrease in the number of critical cases and the death rate; adequate ICU bed capacity to treat critically ill patients; as well as booster vaccination coverage among the elderly.

Currently, three of the four criteria, except for booster vaccination coverage among the elderly, have reached the target number.

The government will also decide whether to enter a second phase, where the mandate of wearing masks will be lifted entirely in all indoor spaces, if the coronavirus is lowered to the lowest level of its four-level infection control system. Currently, COVID-19 disease is classified at Level 2.