"Can't We Just Buy Masks?" Opinions on the Easing of the 'Mask 5-Day Rotation' System

Public Mask Supply Stabilizes
Citizens Say "Inconvenient to Have 2 Masks Per Person"
Pharmacies Call for "Expanding Proxy Buyers and Increasing Mask Purchase Limits"

On the 19th, a notice related to the 'Mask 5-Day Rotation System' at a pharmacy located in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul / Photo by Joohee Kang, Intern Reporter kjh181@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon, Intern Reporter Kang Joo-hee] As the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) decreases, cautious opinions are emerging that the 'mask 5-day rotation system' should be discontinued and that anyone should be able to freely purchase masks as before. Some pharmacists have hinted at easing the 'mask 5-day rotation system,' saying that although the recent mask supply has decreased, inventory has actually increased.

Pharmacist A, who runs a pharmacy in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, explained, "At first, we received 400 masks per day, but now we only get about 100 to 200. Even then, there are often leftovers on weekdays."

He continued, "Even when there is leftover inventory, many citizens feel inconvenienced because the purchase limit is two masks. When masks were scarce, people tolerated this inconvenience, but now that supply is more stable, more citizens are voicing complaints."

Citizen B (31), whom we met in front of a pharmacy in the same area, said, "These days, I am relieved that I can buy masks without lining up," but added, "It is still inconvenient that only two masks can be purchased per week. I heard that pharmacies have leftover mask inventory recently, so I think it might be okay to increase the purchase quantity to three or four masks."

According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on the 20th, the number of public mask stockholding sales outlets increased from 16,661 in the first week of April to 18,585 in the second week, and 20,565 in the third week. Meanwhile, the number of weekly buyers decreased from 19.88 million in the first week of April to 18.47 million in the second week, and 15.98 million in the third week. This analysis suggests that as the number of buyers decreases, the number of sales outlets with leftover mask inventory is gradually increasing.

On the 19th, a notice stating that public masks are being sold is posted on the entrance door of a pharmacy in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul. Photo by Joohee Kang, intern kjh181@asiae.co.kr

As mask supply stabilized, some pharmacies have been selling public masks to customers on weekdays other than their designated purchase days. Office worker C in his 30s said, "I visited the pharmacy on a day that was not my purchase day just in case, and I was able to buy a public mask."

Regarding this, pharmacist B said, "Some pharmacies violate the mask 5-day rotation system and sell masks on other days, leading to complaints from customers like 'Why do they give masks there but not here?'" and added, "This problem arises because there is leftover supply, but if this situation continues, both customers and pharmacists will be confused."

Meanwhile, the government has allowed proxy purchases of masks for family members who do not live together. On the 19th, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced a plan to expand the scope of proxy purchase permission from the resident registration certificate to the family relation certificate to supplement the public mask system.

Until now, only family members living together according to the resident registration certificate were allowed to proxy purchase public masks, but from the 20th, if you bring a family relation certificate, you can proxy purchase public masks for non-cohabiting family members as well.

However, pharmacists say that this measure is unlikely to have a practical effect on improving the mask 5-day rotation system. Another pharmacist D explained, "Although the government announced a policy to ease regulations, the scope of proxy purchasers has not been expanded. The 5-day rotation system and the two-mask-per-person limit are still maintained."

He added, "As supply stabilizes, customers are increasingly requesting to allow proxy purchases. Regulatory easing that solves the problem of leftover mask supply at pharmacies is necessary," and pointed out, "Measures such as broadly expanding the age range of proxy purchasers or increasing the number of masks that can be purchased are needed. The abolition of the mask 5-day rotation system should also be gradually considered."

Meanwhile, the government has stated that it will continue to implement the current mask 5-day rotation system for the time being.

Yang Jin-young, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, said at a mask supply briefing on the 6th, "At this point, discussions about abolishing the mask 5-day rotation system or easing purchase restrictions are considered premature," and explained, "Although the mask 5-day rotation system has been somewhat stably established and the public can purchase masks more easily, production is still insufficient to meet all mask demand."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.