Government: Reinfection Possible After 90 Days of Positive Test... Indoor Masks Are the Last Defense

"Air Conditioning Use May Cause Poor Ventilation"...Emphasis on Summer Precautions
"Natural Immunity Declines Differently Depending on Infection Timing, Uncertain...Indoor Masks Needed to Reduce Transmission Risk"

With the outdoor mask mandate and social distancing lifted, students on a school trip are making joyful memories at Anmok Beach in Gangneung City, Gangwon Province, on the 3rd of last month.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jung-wan] As the number of new COVID-19 cases recorded in the 6,000 range on the 7th, maintaining below 10,000 for three consecutive days, the government stated that even those who have recovered from COVID-19 have the possibility of reinfection, and that lifting the indoor mask-wearing mandate will be the 'last line of defense.'

Im Suk-young, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), said at the regular briefing that morning, "We consider indoor masks to be a very effective means of infection control at a relatively low cost," adding, "We believe that the last line of defense in infection control will probably be indoor masks."

Im also said, "Since the timing of infection among recovered patients varies, the decline in natural immunity also differs," emphasizing, "It is important to reduce the risk of virus transmission by wearing indoor masks." He added, "Because the risk of infection transmission is high in enclosed and crowded indoor environments, indoor masks should be maintained."

He particularly stressed the need for greater caution during the summer when air conditioner use increases. He said, "When using air conditioners, ventilation tends to be neglected," and urged, "In multi-use facilities, natural ventilation should be conducted for more than 10 minutes every two hours, and when staying in the environment for three days, please wear a KF80 or higher-grade health mask."

Regarding future mask-wearing guidelines, he explained, "Currently, some outdoor mask mandates have been lifted," and added, "The schedule and situation thereafter will be reviewed from multiple perspectives with experts and announced as soon as decisions are made."

Indoor mask-wearing also applies to recovered patients. Authorities estimate the duration of natural immunity from infection to be 90 days. Park Young-jun, an epidemiological investigation team member at the CDCH, explained, "Although studies show varying results, current findings generally indicate that reinfection is possible after 90 days from the initial infection," adding, "The risk of reinfection may be higher if the variant type differs or if the individual is unvaccinated."

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