Final Decision to Change Indoor Mask Policy from 'Mandatory' to 'Recommended'... When Can You Take It Off?

On the 23rd, citizens visiting a bookstore in downtown Seoul are wearing masks. The government finalized and announced the adjustment plan for the indoor mask-wearing mandate through the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting on the same day. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Byeon Seon-jin] On the 23rd, the government adopted a plan to change the indoor mask-wearing mandate to a recommendation if certain criteria are met, considering the spread of COVID-19, trends in severe cases and deaths, and medical capacity. Even if the mandate changes to a recommendation, masks must still be worn on public transportation such as buses, subways, and taxis, as well as in long-term care hospitals·facilities, hospitals and other medical institutions, and social welfare facilities. The government announced the transition from mandatory indoor mask-wearing, which was enforced in October 2020, on this day after holding expert discussions earlier this month and consulting with the National Infectious Disease Crisis Response Advisory Committee and government-party meetings.

Indoor Masks Changed from 'Mandatory' to 'Recommended'... Must Meet 2 out of 4 Indicators

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) discussed the 'Plan to Adjust Indoor Mask-Wearing Mandate' with the Central Disease Control Headquarters and decided to change the indoor mask-wearing mandate to a recommendation, adjusting it step-by-step considering the COVID-19 epidemic situation and the risk level of each facility. Since there is significant concern among health experts about the spread of a COVID-19 resurgence, they agreed to consider ▲the COVID-19 patient incidence trend stabilizing after peaking in the 7th wave ▲a downward trend in severe cases and deaths ▲and stabilization of medical response capacity.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is attending the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting on COVID-19 held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 23rd. The government will finalize and announce the indoor mask mandate adjustment plan through this meeting. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

When entering the first phase of adjustment, indoor mask-wearing will change from a legal mandate to a recommendation, but the mandate will remain for medical institutions, pharmacies, some social welfare facilities, and public transportation for the time being.

The timing for entering phase one is when at least two of the four indicators?patient incidence stabilization, decrease in severe cases and deaths, stable medical response capacity, and immunity acquisition among high-risk groups?are met. Although there were forecasts that phase one adjustment could begin around the Lunar New Year holiday, the consensus was to set criteria rather than specify an exact date.

To evaluate patient incidence stabilization, weekly patient incidence indicators are referenced. A continuous decrease for more than two weeks can be a criterion for stabilization. For the decrease in severe cases and deaths, the weekly number of new severe patients and weekly fatality rate are examined to see if the number of patients decreases compared to the previous week and if the fatality rate remains below 0.10%. The government also considers medical response capacity sufficient when more than 50% of intensive care unit beds that can be mobilized within four weeks are available. The immunity acquisition criterion for high-risk groups is whether the vaccination rate target set by the government for high-risk groups and residents of infection-vulnerable facilities reaches 50% and 60%, respectively.

This winter, as the resurgence continues or increases, only the stable medical response capacity indicator (68.7%) has been met among the four indicators. This means that the mask-wearing mandate cannot be changed to a recommendation immediately. However, the health authorities explained, "The specific reference values are not absolute judgment criteria and the final decision will be made by the CDSCH." The authorities will monitor the situation, comprehensively evaluate whether the related indicators are met, and announce the timing of phase one adjustment after CDSCH discussions.

The second phase adjustment, which is the final lifting of indoor mask mandates, involves lifting the mask mandate even in some indoor spaces where the mandate was maintained during phase one and transitioning to a lifestyle of recommending mask-wearing only when necessary. However, separate reviews may be possible if maintaining the mandate in essential facilities such as medical institutions is necessary.

The timing for phase two adjustment is when the domestic COVID-19 crisis level is downgraded from severe to caution or alert, or when COVID-19 is reclassified from a Class 2 to a Class 4 legally designated infectious disease. A health authority official said, “Even after adjusting the indoor mask mandate, if there is a sudden surge in cases due to new variants or changes in overseas situations, or if the medical response system is heavily burdened, re-mandating mask-wearing can be considered.”

Authorities: "Changing Indoor Mask Mandate to Recommendation Does Not Eliminate the Need to Wear Masks"

Health authorities say that even if the indoor mask-wearing mandate is adjusted, the protective effect and necessity of wearing masks do not disappear. Instead of a legal mandate that imposes fines for not wearing masks indoors as currently enforced, it will be changed to a recommendation. Director Ji Young-mi of the Korea Disease Control Agency said, “We hope individuals will voluntarily wear masks when necessary and make personal preventive measures a part of daily life.”

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