Jeonnam Province's 'Mask Wearing' Plays a Role in COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Mask-wearing, well known as a COVID-19 daily quarantine rule, has been confirmed to have played a significant role in preventing the spread of community infections.

According to Jeonnam Province on the 6th, the 170th confirmed case in Jeonnam, which occurred on the first day of the recent Chuseok holiday in the Suncheon area, had as many as 150 contacts, raising concerns about potential community spread, but all tested 'negative.'

This result was found to be mainly because not only the confirmed patient but also all contacts wore masks. Currently, no additional infections have occurred.

Earlier, on the 20th of last month, a confirmed patient in their 60s from Busan stayed for four days at a funeral in the Suncheon area, but all visitors to the funeral complied with quarantine rules such as wearing masks, and all 205 contacts tested 'negative' and were released from quarantine.

Also, in June in Gokseong County, all contacts who shared a vehicle with a confirmed patient for 30 minutes wore masks, preventing additional confirmed cases, clearly demonstrating the preventive effect of mask-wearing against COVID-19.

In particular, health authorities analyzed that the reason no additional infections have occurred recently is that after a surge of confirmed cases in Suncheon from mid-August to early September, residents' awareness of COVID-19 prevention was strengthened, and personal quarantine rules were thoroughly followed.

Regarding these cases in Jeonnam Province, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun also encouraged Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeollanam-do, during the COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on the 4th, saying, “The reason COVID-19 confirmed cases in Jeonnam Province were immediately contained at each critical point of infection spread is because all residents wore masks well.”

He added, “The most important vaccine right now is the mask,” urging that these excellent cases be shared nationwide and that mask-wearing be made a daily habit.

Kang Young-gu, Director of Health and Welfare Bureau of Jeonnam Province, said, “A serious crisis could come from silent transmission after the Chuseok holiday,” and advised, “Those who have returned from their hometowns should stay at home for 3 to 4 days, avoid contact with others as much as possible, and check the health condition of their parents in their hometown.”

Meanwhile, with the revision of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, mask-wearing will be mandatory starting from the 13th. If masks are not worn in places or facilities where there is a risk of infectious disease transmission, a fine of 100,000 won will be imposed on the individual, and a fine of up to 3 million won will be imposed on the manager or operator.

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