Government to Decide Next Week After Discussing 'Outdoor Mask Wearing Mandate Lift'

by Kim Youngwon

Published 18 Apr.2022 13:32(KST)

Updated 18 Apr.2022 13:44(KST)

"We Will Make Decisions Based on a Comprehensive Evaluation of the Quarantine Situation"

As social distancing measures such as restrictions on private gatherings and business hours were fully lifted, citizens hurried on their way to work on the streets of Gwanghwamun, Seoul, returning to pre-COVID-19 daily life on the 18th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] The government announced that it will review whether to lift the outdoor mask-wearing mandate next week.

On the 18th, Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, said, "As initially announced, discussions on adjusting the outdoor mask-wearing mandate are scheduled to begin next week," adding, "We will comprehensively evaluate the situation, including the level of risk to quarantine measures if this adjustment is made, before making a decision."

Wearing masks has been considered a key COVID-19 prevention measure. The government stated on the 15th that it would observe the situation for two weeks after lifting social distancing measures outdoors before reconsidering whether to lift the mask mandate.

Currently, the mask-wearing mandate applies to ▲all indoor spaces ▲outdoor areas where maintaining a 2-meter distance from others is not possible ▲and gatherings such as assemblies, performances, and events where many people congregate. Although guidelines technically allow removing masks outdoors if an appropriate distance is maintained, it is difficult to distinguish situations clearly, so mask-wearing has become widespread.

Meanwhile, the government plans to downgrade COVID-19’s infectious disease classification from Level 1 to Level 2 on the 25th and to lift the mandatory isolation for confirmed cases around May 23.

Regarding support for COVID-19 treatments and vaccination costs after the downgrade, Son said, "Nothing has been decided yet," and added, "We will continue to review and decide on support issues by the end of the transition period (four weeks from the 25th)."