"Prepare for This Fall's Flu Season" ... "Masks May Be Removed by Next Spring"

Possibility of Concurrent Spread with COVID-19... Need for Influenza Vaccine Response
Experts "Mask Removal Should Be Considered"

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), stated last week that the number of deaths related to COVID-19 has reached its lowest point since March 2020, indicating that the end of the global pandemic is in sight. Meanwhile, on the 15th, the screening clinic at Jung-gu Public Health Center in Seoul was quiet. Photo by Mun Honam munonam@

In South Korea, although the number of new COVID-19 cases temporarily surged following the Chuseok holiday, it is expected that this will not lead to a large-scale outbreak. Instead, there is a high possibility that COVID-19 and influenza (flu) will circulate simultaneously, making flu vaccination and other responses necessary this fall. Some experts anticipate that the indoor mask mandate could be lifted as early as next spring.

According to health authorities on the 15th, most of the Korean population has acquired immunity through infection or vaccination, so the number of confirmed cases is expected to continue declining for the time being.

Im Suk-young, the Situation General Manager of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, recently stated, "According to modeling experts' predictions, the number of confirmed cases is expected to gradually decrease for the time being, and if there are no major variables such as the spread of a new variant, the likelihood of a large-scale outbreak is low." Kim Tak, a professor of infectious diseases at Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, also predicted, "Although the number of patients may temporarily increase due to differences in testing volume after Chuseok, the overall trend will be a decline in the outbreak."

However, there are calls to thoroughly prepare not only for COVID-19 but also for the flu epidemic. Due to mask-wearing and social distancing measures over the past two years since the onset of COVID-19, there has been no flu epidemic, resulting in a general decrease in immunity to the flu among the population. Jeong Ki-seok, Chair of the National Infectious Disease Crisis Response Advisory Committee, said, "South Korea has a well-established flu treatment system, so even if many flu patients occur, there will be no problem in providing care," but added, "However, if COVID-19 cases surge dramatically, it is necessary to organize the medical system to simultaneously prepare for flu patients."

Baek Soon-young, emeritus professor at the Catholic University College of Medicine, also said, "Although COVID-19 is stabilizing, if the flu occupies many medical beds, COVID-19 could become dangerous at that time," and added, "It is important to prescribe Tamiflu, and it seems to be a time when widespread prescription is necessary."

Some predict that if COVID-19 stabilizes by next spring, indoor mask-wearing could be lifted. Chair Jeong said, "At a recent respiratory conference held in Europe, doctors treating COVID-19 gathered, and it was difficult to find anyone wearing a mask even in lecture rooms," and predicted, "If the medical system is maintained without disruption domestically, it will be possible to remove masks and fully return to daily life by next spring."

Professor Jeong Jae-hoon of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Gachon University College of Medicine emphasized, "It is now necessary to quickly discuss lifting mask mandates for children, and while masks should be worn in essential facilities, it is also necessary to consider lifting regulations in other areas." He added, "A return to the past is now possible. We (infectious disease experts) are preparing to be forgotten in the daily lives of the public and to return to our respective positions to prepare for the next infectious disease crisis."

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