Masks Can Be Removed During Outdoor Playground Activities Outside Class... Must Wear During Sports Day Cheering

Masks Can Be Removed During Breaks or Lunch Soccer Games
"Same Standards Applied as Mask Mandate Lifted for PE Classes"
Mask Removal Allowed for Participants in Sports Events with Over 50 People
Simple Participants Like Cheerers Must Wear Masks

On the 2nd, when normal attendance was resumed at all schools nationwide, students at Gwangjang Elementary School in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, removed the partitions installed at their seats. 2022.05.02 Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Ministry of Education announced that masks do not need to be worn during outdoor activities such as soccer during recess or physical education time, aside from class-unit physical education lessons.

At a regular briefing with the press corps on the 2nd, the Ministry of Education stated regarding mask-wearing during outdoor activities like soccer at recess or lunchtime, "Since mask-wearing is not mandatory during class-unit physical education lessons, the same standard applies."

At school sports events with more than 50 participants, only students engaged in physical activities are exempt from wearing masks. However, simple participants such as cheerers or spectators must wear masks.

A Ministry of Education official explained, "At sports competitions with more than 50 participants, simple participants must wear masks. In cases with fewer than 50 participants, the school principal may require mask-wearing outdoors if, after gathering opinions from school members, the risk of infection is deemed high."

Masks must be worn during commuting times if it is impossible to maintain a distance of at least 1 meter from others nearby. The Ministry of Education official said, "Health authorities recommend wearing masks when it is continuously difficult to maintain a distance of more than 1 meter."

From the 2nd, the mask-wearing mandate was lifted for outdoor play in kindergarten class units, class-unit physical education lessons, and sports events in elementary, middle, and special schools. From the 23rd, the mask-wearing mandate will also be lifted during experiential learning and school trips.

The Ministry of Education official added, "During experiential learning or school trips, the school principal may require mask-wearing outdoors if, after gathering opinions from school members, the risk of infection is deemed high."

Earlier, health authorities announced that from the 2nd, mask-wearing outdoors will be mandatory for participants in gatherings of 50 or more people, as well as spectators at performances, sports facilities, and amusement facilities. This includes concert halls, sports stadiums, amusement parks, water parks, and winter sports facilities. Mask-wearing is recommended in places where it is difficult to maintain at least 1 meter distance continuously (for 15 minutes or more) from others, or where droplets are heavily generated, such as shouting or singing.

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