Indoor Mask Mandate Lifted Before or After Seollal Holiday? 7-Day Quarantine Requirement?[Q&A]

[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 medical institutions like nursing hospitals and facilities, hospitals, and social welfare facilities.

The timing for entering the first stage, where indoor mask-wearing changes from a legal obligation to a recommendation, is when two or more of the following four indicators are met: stabilization of patient cases, reduction in severe cases and deaths, stable medical response capacity, and immunity acquisition among high-risk groups. Although there was speculation that the first stage adjustment could occur around the Lunar New Year holiday, opinions were gathered to set criteria rather than specify an exact date.

Once the first stage adjustment begins, indoor mask-wearing will be a recommendation rather than a legal obligation, but the mandate will be maintained for medical institutions, pharmacies, some social welfare facilities, and public transportation for the time being.

The second stage adjustment, which is the final lifting of indoor mask requirements, will lift the mask mandate even in some indoor spaces where it was maintained during the first stage, transitioning to a lifestyle of recommending mask-wearing only in situations where it is necessary. However, separate reviews may be conducted if it is necessary to maintain the mandate in essential facilities such as medical institutions.

The timing for the second stage 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 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 also be considered."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Below is a Q&A summary of remarks made by Director Ji Young-mi of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) at the regular briefing of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters held that day.

Q. The criteria for lifting indoor mask mandates are presented with four indicators, but since the situation may continuously change as the epidemic continues, how will these criteria be applied going forward?

Director Ji: "KDCA evaluates these indicators on a weekly basis. For example, among the indicators currently presented, we look at the patient case trend by observing the peak level first and then monitoring a decreasing trend for about two weeks. Regarding bed capacity and medical capacity, we observe for about four weeks whether the capacity is sufficient. The basic approach is to evaluate weekly, so we first observe the peak level and then evaluate for about two more weeks weekly, after which we gather expert opinions and hold a Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting to decide the timing."

Q. If two of the four indicators for lifting the mask mandate are met but the other two fall significantly short of the criteria, is it still possible to adjust the mask mandate?

Director Ji: "We do not expect that two indicators will be met while the others fall significantly short. Of course, some may not be met, but when two or more are satisfied, a comprehensive evaluation will be made through discussions at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters before making a decision."

Q. There is speculation that the first stage adjustment could occur around the Lunar New Year holiday. What is the health authority's view on this?

Director Ji: "A gentle peak is expected in January next year, but it is difficult to determine the exact timing. A monitoring period of about two weeks is needed afterward. It could be as early as after the Lunar New Year holiday, but it is not certain yet."

Q. The second stage adjustment is to be implemented when the crisis level is downgraded or the legal infectious disease classification is adjusted. When will this discussion take place?

Director Ji: "The second stage adjustment will be discussed after the first stage adjustment is implemented. Since the World Health Organization (WHO) is still maintaining the public health emergency of international concern, the next WHO discussion is scheduled for around the end of January. If the emergency is lifted, South Korea will also consider lowering the classification or downgrading the current 'severe' level to 'alert' or 'caution' for a comprehensive review."

Q. Amid the ongoing winter epidemic, there are concerns that announcing the indoor mask lifting plan without a set timing might render the mask-wearing mandate ineffective or reduce vigilance. What is your response?

Director Ji: "Mask-wearing is a very useful measure until vaccines or treatments are secured, and Korea has done very well in reducing the spread early on. Even after lifting the outdoor mask mandate, the public voluntarily continued to wear masks outdoors actively, so I believe the mandate will be well observed even though the indoor mask mandate has not yet been lifted. Also, even after the mandate is lifted, the effectiveness of masks does not disappear. Since it will be changed to a recommendation, I ask everyone to continue wearing masks properly."

Q. During the ruling party-government consultation, there was a demand to reduce the current 7-day isolation requirement upon confirmation. What is the health authority's position?

Director Ji: "For healthcare workers, the isolation period was reduced to 3 days to minimize medical service gaps. The virus shedding period is generally considered to be about a week, so a one-week isolation is necessary. Most countries also have a 7-day isolation, though some have 5 days. However, if the situation changes and the infectious disease classification is lowered, the isolation mandate can be lifted."

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