KMA Recommends Outdoor Social Distancing When Possible... Masks Advised for High-Risk and Symptomatic Individuals

Announcement on Lifting Outdoor Mask Mandate on the 2nd
"Awareness Must Not Be Completely Relaxed"

On the first day of the outdoor mask mandate being lifted, on the 2nd, citizens wearing masks are walking at Gwanghwamun Station of the Seoul subway. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] Starting from the 2nd, the outdoor mask-wearing mandate has been lifted in most situations except for certain cases such as gatherings and attending performances. In response, the medical community has recommended maintaining physical distance outdoors whenever possible and advised high-risk groups to wear masks even outside.

The Korean Medical Association's COVID-19 Response Committee issued a notice on the 2nd stating, "From a medical perspective, although the outdoor mask mandate has been relaxed, vigilance against COVID-19 infection should not be completely eased."

The association first encouraged securing physical distance outdoors whenever possible. Even in outdoor or open spaces, the transmission risk of COVID-19 does not disappear entirely, so maintaining about 1 meter of physical space is advised to minimize the possibility of infection.

Additionally, mask-wearing outdoors is recommended for high-risk groups, including the elderly and those with chronic illnesses, as well as individuals exhibiting suspected COVID-19 symptoms such as cough, fever, or sore throat.

Lastly, when interacting with strangers or the elderly outdoors, wearing masks and practicing hand hygiene and personal sanitation measures are advised to minimize community transmission.

The association emphasized, "Spring brings large temperature fluctuations and strong winds, requiring attention to temperature regulation and dehydration. Air quality may deteriorate due to yellow dust and pollen, so managing personal immunity is important." They urged, "Ensure adequate hydration, and do not forget to wear masks and maintain hand hygiene when going outside."

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