"Lift the Indoor and Outdoor Mask Mandate" Petition Appears at Cheong... Europe and Others Already 'No Mask'

Photo by Cheongwadae National Petition Board screen capture.

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[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] As the domestic COVID-19 outbreak enters a declining phase and new confirmed cases have recorded over 100,000 for two consecutive days, a petition urging the lifting of the indoor and outdoor mask-wearing mandate has been posted.

Previously, the quarantine authorities stated that even if other quarantine guidelines are lifted following the end of 'social distancing,' a COVID-19 prevention measure, the 'outdoor mask-wearing' mandate would be the last to be lifted.

On the 5th, a petition titled "We urge the lifting of the indoor and outdoor mask-wearing mandate" was posted on the Blue House National Petition Board. As of 4 p.m. on the 10th, the petition had received over 1,220 endorsements.

At the COVID-19 screening clinic at the Jongno-gu Public Health Center in Seoul, citizens are undergoing rapid antigen tests guided by public health center staff. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

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The petitioner said, "Recently, the government quoted experts saying that lifting the indoor mask mandate is premature," and opened by stating, "However, other Western countries are accelerating the relaxation of mask-wearing not only outdoors but also indoors."

He wrote, "The United States, which experienced the Omicron pandemic earlier than us, is moving toward eliminating the indoor mask mandate," adding, "The Governor of Hawaii announced in a news briefing that the mask mandate would be discontinued (except for schools)."

The petitioner also emphasized, "European countries such as the UK and France are also relaxing mask-wearing guidelines," and "Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Austria, and others are lifting most COVID-19 prevention measures and promoting a return to normal life."

Furthermore, he said, "Please give the people who have cooperated well the gift of lifting the indoor and outdoor mask-wearing mandate as soon as possible, except for some high-risk areas, the public is now exhausted. At the point where we must move beyond 'With COVID' to 'Endemic,' mask-wearing is nothing but an unnecessary act," he pointed out.

Jung Eun-kyung, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. [Image source=Yonhap News]

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◆ Outdoor 'No Mask' Seems Difficult for Now... Jeong Eun-kyung Says "Targeting This Summer"

Previously, quarantine authorities emphasized that removing masks is the last step in lifting quarantine measures and expressed that rapid relaxation of measures is premature.

Jeong Eun-kyung, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, said about lifting the outdoor mask mandate, "We will aim for this summer." In a video released on the 8th through a YouTube channel titled 'National Communication Group 6th Term,' she responded to the question, "When can we live without masks?" by saying, "For indoor cases, it seems necessary to maintain masks for the time being."

She added, "Outdoors, if a 2-meter distance can be maintained, masks are not required," and "People tend to wear masks because of others' eyes, the inconvenience of putting them on and off, and concerns about causing inconvenience to others."

Son Young-rae, Head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, also said at a regular briefing on the 6th, "If the current decline is stably maintained and the medical system has capacity, we will discuss lifting social distancing measures, which cause significant socioeconomic and livelihood facility damage, first," adding, "Therefore, mask mandate lifting is not a high priority. This will be decided while monitoring the quarantine situation."

◆ Some Countries in Europe Already 'No Mask'

Meanwhile, European countries such as the UK are leaving mask-wearing indoors and outdoors to personal discretion.

The UK lifted the mask mandate at the end of January and fully lifted quarantine measures on February 24. France removed the indoor public facility mask mandate from the 14th of last month. Schools and workplaces also allowed so-called 'no mask' policies and lifted most COVID-19 prevention rules. Germany also eased nationwide COVID-19 restrictions starting March 20.

Asian countries are also actively relaxing COVID-19 prevention regulations. In particular, Singapore significantly eased entry measures from the 1st, so all travelers who have completed vaccination no longer need to apply for a Vaccine Travel Pass for Singapore entry approval or purchase COVID-19 travel insurance. Additionally, no separate COVID-19 test is required after entering Singapore.

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