Prime Minister Jeong: "Masks Should Have Reasonable Prices and Convenient Purchase Options"

"Lower Public Obligation Ratio to Expand Summer Mask Production by Manufacturers"
"Export Should Be Allowed Within the Range of No Domestic Supply Issues"
"Communities Surrounding Schools Cannot Be Assured... Must Follow Quarantine Rules"

Prime Minister Jeong Sye-gyun (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwangho Lee] Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said on the 14th, "It is now time to improve the system so that the public can conveniently purchase masks at reasonable prices."

This is interpreted as an intention to stop the public supply of health masks from next month and leave mask distribution to the private sector, as the emergency supply adjustment measures for masks and hand sanitizers related to the public supply of masks will end on the 30th of this month.

Prime Minister Chung presided over the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting for COVID-19 response held at the Government Seoul Office and stated, "It is necessary to lower the mandatory public supply ratio so that manufacturers can expand the production of summer masks and open the way for exports within the range where there is no problem with domestic supply."

He explained, "It has been four months since the introduction of the public supply system for masks. With the expiration of the June notification approaching, there is much public interest. Production has greatly increased, and a large stockpile has been secured."

He also urged, "The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and related ministries should promptly prepare institutional improvement plans so that the mask supply structure can gradually restore market functions."

Earlier, in response to the mask shortage caused by the spread of COVID-19, the government started public supply of masks at the end of February, introduced a 5-day rotation system from March based on birth year to stagger purchase dates, and limited purchases to two masks per person. As mask production increased, on April 27, the purchase limit was raised to three masks per person, and the 5-day rotation system was abolished on the 1st of this month.

Prime Minister Chung also mentioned, "It has been a week since all grades resumed in-person classes," adding, "The rate of schedule adjustments for school attendance, which was initially around 5%, has dropped to 0.1%."

He continued, "Although there have been cases of infections among students and staff, there have been no cases of transmission within schools so far," and added, "I believe this is the result of efforts by the education sector, quarantine authorities, teachers, and parents to ensure safe in-person classes."

Furthermore, he said, "We will do our best to address the shortcomings identified so far and make schools safer than anywhere else," and urged, "I ask everyone to unite their strength and wisdom so that the difficult-to-start in-person classes are not interrupted."

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