Lee Jae-gap "New COVID Wave... Concern Over Lifting Masks Even in Hospitals"

Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital Infectious Diseases Professor
"Urging Elderly and High-Risk Groups to Wear Masks"

Professor Lee Jae-gap, an infectious disease specialist at Hallym University Gangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, recently urged that the elderly and high-risk groups must wear masks amid the sharp increase in daily COVID-19 cases exceeding 40,000.

In an interview with CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the 25th, Professor Lee diagnosed, "The number of patients is increasing compared to usual," and "a new wave has begun."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding the recent surge in confirmed cases, Professor Lee explained, "There is a decline in immunity among those who were vaccinated or infected last year, and since June, the first phase of easing quarantine measures was implemented, but especially the biggest impact recently seems to be from the lifting of the legal quarantine obligation."

He continued, "Previously, companies provided sick leave, but now employees have to use their annual leave, leading to situations where people do not get tested or isolate," adding, "also, when attending gatherings or company dinners recently, mask-wearing rates are dropping, and even high-risk seniors aged 60 and above are often removing their masks."

Regarding the current COVID-19 epidemic situation, he said, "Unlike before, we are not seeing patterns of rapid increases whenever quarantine measures are slightly eased," but added, "since it is difficult for many people to participate in prevention efforts, vulnerable groups continue to suffer."

He emphasized, "The most important part in an endemic situation is to consider how to properly protect high-risk groups and those in vulnerable facilities, which requires social consideration."

He expressed concern about the lifting of mask-wearing mandates in hospitals. He said, "Even at the current level of spread, the number of in-hospital infections increases significantly due to patients admitted during the incubation period or visitors," and added, "even if the mandate is lifted, hospitals cannot afford to stop wearing masks."

He further stated, "This will lead to conflicts between those who want to remove masks and others, causing a surge in complaints on site," and added, "rather than creating such situations, it would be better not to lift the legal mask mandate in hospitals to avoid confusion."

The government plans to implement Phase 2 of the COVID-19 crisis level adjustment roadmap around next month. In Phase 2, the mask-wearing mandate will be fully lifted in some facilities, including hospital-level medical institutions and residential infection-vulnerable facilities.

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