Starting from the 2nd, masks can be removed outdoors, but 'not here'

Kim Bu-gyeom "Number of confirmed and critically ill patients significantly lower than Omicron peak"
Mask wearing 'mandatory' at outdoor venues with over 50 people
Mask wearing 'recommended' in other high droplet infection risk areas

On the 29th, a citizen is walking through downtown Seoul holding a mask in their hand.

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Se-eun] Except for some cases, the outdoor mask-wearing mandate will be lifted after 566 days.

On the 29th, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum announced at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting for COVID-19, "We judged that we can no longer ignore the public's frustration and inconvenience of not being able to take off masks," and stated, "From the 2nd, the outdoor mask-wearing mandate will be lifted."

Prime Minister Kim explained the background of lifting the mandate based on the mitigation of quarantine risks.

He said, "Compared to the peak period of Omicron, the number of confirmed cases has dropped to less than 20%, and severe cases have decreased by more than half," adding, "The occupancy rate of severe care beds has also fallen to the 20% range."

However, according to the government's announced adjustment plan for the outdoor mask-wearing mandate, masks must still be worn at gatherings of 50 or more people, or at performances and sports stadiums, due to the risk of droplet infection.

Additionally, even outdoors, masks must be worn if it is a "crowded space" where the distance to others is within 1 meter.

The biggest criterion distinguishing outdoor from indoor is the presence of a ceiling and whether the space is enclosed on all sides.

Places with a ceiling or roof and enclosed on all sides are considered indoors, but if two or more sides are open, natural ventilation is possible, so it is regarded as outdoors.

Regarding the "subway stations," which have been a major public concern, masks must be worn mandatorily inside the station.

However, outdoor platforms that have a ceiling but no walls are considered outdoors due to ventilation. In this case, masks only need to be worn when boarding the subway.

Scarves, mesh-type masks, and face coverings are not recognized as masks. Neck warmers and valve-type masks are also not accepted.

At some outdoor multi-use facilities such as performance venues, masks must be worn, but at other facilities, even if 50 or more people attend, mask-wearing is not mandatory.

Since the form and density of gatherings vary, the mask-wearing mandate is set as a "recommendation" rather than uniformly applied. Mask-wearing is recommended in living sports clubs and other settings where droplet infection is possible.

Even in very large outdoor spaces, if people are crowded within 1 meter, mask-wearing is recommended. Although not mandatory, the minimum social distance has been standardized to 1 meter.

Meanwhile, the indoor mask-wearing mandate is expected to be difficult to lift for the time being.

Indoor mask-wearing is considered the most effective quarantine measure and is regarded as "the last quarantine rule to be lifted."

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