"Positive on Lifting Social Distancing... Outdoor Masks to Be Reviewed Considering Public Behavior"

Trend Decline Steadily Maintained

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The government stated that in the process of reviewing the lifting of the outdoor mask-wearing mandate this week, it will conduct a comprehensive review considering not only scientific aspects but also the social message and the impact on public behavior.

On the 25th, Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said in a back briefing, "The issue of outdoor masks will be discussed after comprehensively reviewing various opinions this week, and no decision has been made yet."

Son explained that from a scientific perspective, compared to indoors, the possibility of transmission outdoors is so low that the necessity to maintain the mask-wearing mandate is insufficient. However, he noted that opinions have also been raised that the social message given by outdoor mask-wearing and its impact on public behavior need to be considered, making a comprehensive review necessary.

Son said, "There is concern that lifting the outdoor mask mandate might lead to negligence in indoor mask-wearing." On the other hand, he added, "There is also an opinion that not wearing masks outdoors promotes outdoor activities, helping people shift their activities from indoors to outdoors." He emphasized, "We will gather various pros and cons and conduct a comprehensive review."

Regarding the full lifting of social distancing measures except for outdoor mask-wearing on the 18th, he assessed that the COVID-19 outbreak continues to steadily decline.

Son said, "It has only been a week, so it is premature to make a definitive judgment, but overall, a stable downward trend has been maintained since the lifting. I expect the situation will become clearer as we observe this week."

Son evaluated that confirmed cases, critically ill patients (668), and deaths (110) are steadily decreasing, and that the medical response system, including the number of severe patient beds, home treatment patients, and outpatient clinics capable of face-to-face diagnosis for confirmed cases, is stable. As of midnight on that day, the number of new confirmed cases nationwide was 34,370, dropping to the 30,000 range for the first time in 76 days since February 8, when it was 36,713.

Earlier, the government lowered the classification of COVID-19 from Level 1 to Level 2 through a partial revision of the notice on "Types of Infectious Diseases Designated by the Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency." The revised notice also included maintaining the current treatment and isolation obligations during the four-week "transition period" starting from that day.

When asked about the possibility of raising the COVID-19 classification back to Level 1, Son responded, "During the grace period, we will transition to responding to COVID-19 within the daily medical system as much as possible, and after about four weeks, we will comprehensively assess isolation adjustments." He added, "It will proceed as announced."

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