Why mask wearing requirement still stands in Korea?

Health Minister Kwon Deok-cheol speaks during a briefing on the lifting of social distancing measures at Government Complex Sejong, Friday. Yonhap

Korea to scrap limits on business operating hours, private gatherings Monday

By Lee Hyo-jin

The government has decided to continue its mask wearing requirement, despite anticipation from some that it might have been lifted along with social distancing measures, due to concerns from the presidential transition committee that it is premature to remove it.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced Friday the lifting of the social distancing measures on business operating hours and private gatherings from Monday, putting an end to such antivirus curbs that have been in place for over two years since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Currently, eateries and cafes can receive sit-in customers until midnight, while up to 10 people can meet for private gatherings.

The decision came two years and one month after the social distancing regulations were implemented nationwide in March 2020, starting with recommendations to halt gatherings at religious facilities and nighttime entertainment venues. Since then, the government has adjusted the distancing measures about 50 times.

Although the health ministry had been considering lifting the mask wearing requirement outdoors, it has decided to maintain the rule for the next couple of weeks, reflecting the presidential transition committee's opinion that it is premature to remove it.

"During the subcommittee for COVID-19 response measures meeting held yesterday, we agreed on the removal of limits on operation hours, private gatherings and large-scale events, but viewed that the government should be prudent over scrapping the mask requirement outdoors," said Hong Kyung-hee, a spokesperson at the transition team for president-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, during a briefing held on Friday.

Gimpo International Airport is crowded with travelers, Friday. Yonhap

During a briefing held later in the day, Heath Minister Kwon Deok-cheol stressed that "face masks are the most effective and fundamental way of preventing infections," saying that the mandatory wearing of masks indoors will have to remain in place for a period of time going forward.

"As for wearing masks outdoors, virus risks differ by situation, such as walking in parks while keeping distance with other people, or participating in large-scale events. We will decide whether to change the rule through further discussions with medical experts in the next two weeks," he added.

Including today's lifting of social distancing measures, Kwon announced the making of roadmap for a phased transition to a post-Omicron era, in which COVID-19 would be treated as an endemic disease and managed more routinely within the general medical system.

Aiming to normalize the medical system, the authorities have decided to lower the Level 1 infectious disease classification of the coronavirus ― the highest level in its four-tier system ― to Level 2, from April 25.

Although virus carriers of diseases categorized as Level 2 are not subject to mandatory self-isolation, the government said those infected with COVID-19 will still have to quarantine for seven days until late May.

The ministry also noted that the costs of treatment will still be covered by Korea's national health insurance for the next four weeks.

Starting in late May, mandatory self-isolation would be lifted and people infected with the coronavirus would only be required to visit local clinics for treatment as the government will stop securing hospital beds for COVID-19 patients.

The ministry also said that it will gradually close down residential treatment centers that have been operated for asymptomatic patients and those with mild symptoms, as home treatment has become the default approach for those infected, leaving only one treatment center per province or city.

On Friday, the number of newly recorded COVID-19 daily infections stood at 125,846, including 14 cases from abroad, while that of critically-ill patients reached 999, up 37 from a day ago.

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