Indoor Mask 'Take Off' vs 'Wear'... 3 Key Issues

[When Will Masks Come Off] Heated Debate as Signs of Reemergence Appear
① Calls for 'Location-Based Removal' or 'Complete Removal' Like Overseas
② Concerns Over Language Development in Young Children... "Remove Masks for Kids First"
③ "Masks Are Ineffective" vs "Preventive Effect Against Twin Demics"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] Since the mask-wearing mandate was lifted outdoors, including group activities, on the 26th of last month, voices calling for adjustments to the indoor mask mandate are growing louder. Medical professionals and citizens are presenting various arguments based on different grounds regarding the maintenance, relaxation, or complete removal of the indoor mask mandate, intensifying discussions on when and in what order masks should be removed indoors.

Overseas Countries Trend Towards Removing Masks... Mandates Only by Location

In major overseas countries such as those in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), masks have mostly been removed indoors as well. In the United States, France, six European countries, and South Africa, there are no mask-wearing mandates at all. Seventeen countries including Italy, Taiwan, and Australia impose mask mandates only in certain places such as medical facilities, social welfare facilities, and public transportation.

In South Korea, voices are also emerging to either adopt location-based mandates like overseas or to completely lift the mandate. The quarantine authorities are also considering this. At the comprehensive audit of the National Assembly’s Health and Welfare Committee on the 20th, Cho Kyu-hong, Minister of Health and Welfare, said, "We will actively consider overseas cases that mandate masks by distinguishing places such as medical institutions, public transportation, and social welfare facilities."

Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, stated, "(Regarding the relaxation of the indoor mask mandate) various opinions are being presented in the National Assembly, and conflicting opinions are also being expressed in the media," adding, "The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency is currently gathering and reviewing opinions from various units, including expert advisory committees."

Concerns About Children's Development... 'Partial Lifting' Suggested

There are ongoing opinions that the mask-wearing mandate should be lifted because continuous mask use hinders language development and social skills in infants and young children. Currently, the mask mandate applies to children aged 24 months and older, but developmental delays in language and other areas are being observed even among children over 24 months.

Seo (26), a fifth-year daycare teacher, said, "Before COVID-19, only about two out of 100 children at the daycare attended speech therapy, but now it’s well over ten," pointing out, "When wearing masks, not only the mouth shape but also facial expressions are hidden, making it difficult to empathize with the emotions behind what is being said." Kang (27), who has a 35-month-old son, lamented, "Many parents and daycare centers around me talk about how mask-wearing delays children's language development and slightly slows other developmental aspects."

The medical community is also aware of these issues. Professor Jung Jae-hoon of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Gachon University College of Medicine emphasized on a radio program last month, "Because many side effects have emerged in children's education and development, masks should be lifted step-by-step starting from infants and young children."

"Masks No Longer Effective" vs. "Preventing Twin-demic"

Opinions on the effectiveness of mask-wearing are divided. On the 6th, the Gwangju Medical Association stated in a declaration, "(South Korea) is the only OECD country mandating indoor mask-wearing, restricting citizens' basic rights," and argued, "Excessive quarantine measures no longer yield social benefits, and among experts, the dominant opinion is that 'excessive regulations are being imposed despite reduced effectiveness.'" On the 26th of last month, the Gyeonggi Medical Association issued a statement saying, "There is no academic rationality to continue forcing children to wear masks under selective and irrational risk claims while allowing free crowding in places like restaurants."

On the other hand, some argue that mask-wearing is necessary amid the expected simultaneous outbreak of respiratory infections such as influenza. Since this year, when social distancing and mask mandate relaxations were implemented, the number of patients with various respiratory infections, including influenza and human metapneumovirus infections, has increased for the first time since before the COVID-19 outbreak in 2019. Professor Kim Woo-joo of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Korea University Guro Hospital said, "With the three Cs environment in winter and the influenza epidemic warning issued, and the twin-demic situation, even if social distancing is not practiced, efforts to reduce the spread should be made," emphasizing the need to maintain indoor mask-wearing for the time being.

Meanwhile, even if the mask mandate is lifted, it is expected that many people will voluntarily continue wearing masks. According to a perception survey by Korea Research in August, 75% responded that they would wear masks indoors regardless of regulations.

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