First Summer in the COVID-19 Era... "Don't Forget Masks and Social Distancing"

Number of Heatwave Days This Summer Increased by 13.3 Days Compared to Last Year
Infections Do Not Subside Despite Rising Temperatures

Shortage of Breathable Droplet-Blocking Masks
"KF Masks Are Safe in Crowded Areas"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] Kim Yu-rim (32), who commutes for over an hour using the subway and bus, finds this summer particularly difficult as it is the first since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). She wears a KF mask whenever she is outdoors, but the recent hot weather makes it hard to breathe comfortably. In a crowded vehicle, she wants to briefly lower her mask below her chin to escape the heat, but fears the disapproving looks from others. Kim said, "I already sweat a lot, and I’m at a loss as to how I’ll endure once the real heat begins."

Wearing masks has become a basic habit in the COVID-19 era. On the 8th, with daytime temperatures soaring well above 30 degrees Celsius and the early onset of heatwaves, more people are complaining about discomfort. This is the first summer scene experienced since the COVID-19 outbreak.

This summer is expected to be hotter than usual, with more heatwaves and tropical nights than in the past. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration’s "2020 Summer Outlook" released on the 22nd of last month, summer temperatures from June to August are expected to be 0.5 to 1.5 degrees Celsius higher than the average (23.6°C) and 0.5 to 1 degree higher than last year (24.1°C). The number of heatwave days, defined as days with a maximum temperature of 33 degrees or higher, is expected to increase to 20-25 days, more than the average (9.8 days) or last year (13.3 days).

Unlike existing flu and cold viruses that spread mainly during transitional seasons and winter, COVID-19’s spread is not expected to decrease even in high temperatures, which is problematic. Jeon Byung-yul, Dean of the Graduate School of Health Industry at CHA University, said, "Considering that COVID-19 has spread in hot countries like Saudi Arabia and current research results, it does not seem that infections will decrease simply because temperatures rise."

Some consumers are turning to droplet-blocking masks, which are somewhat easier to breathe through. These masks have a particle blocking performance of about 55-80% according to KF standards but offer the advantage of easier breathing. As a result, when a mask company began selling droplet-blocking masks on the 5th, about 7.8 million consumers rushed to purchase them, causing online shopping malls to experience access failures. On that day, droplet-blocking masks sold out within 30 minutes of sales starting at 9 a.m.

Concerns about group infections through indoor air conditioning have also been raised, as air conditioners can act as catalysts for droplet spread. In response, health authorities have advised that when using air conditioning, windows should be kept closed but ventilation should be done every two hours, and the wind strength should be controlled to prevent droplets from spreading. Facilities where ventilation is impossible must require users to wear masks, conduct disinfection at least once daily, and manage the entry of symptomatic individuals. Especially in enclosed facilities in areas with many COVID-19 cases, the use of air conditioning is prohibited.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Summer hotspots like water parks and beaches, where crowds gather, are also likely to accelerate the spread of COVID-19. Therefore, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters has issued detailed guidelines for water play facilities, including maintaining a distance of 2 meters (at least 1 meter) within the facility and limiting the number of users by time slots. Professor Cheon Eun-mi of the Respiratory Medicine Department at Ewha Mokdong Hospital advised, "When wearing droplet-blocking masks, the virus blocking effect is reduced, so outdoors it is necessary to keep at least 1 meter distance from others, and in enclosed spaces, it is preferable to wear KF masks."

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