The government is moving toward lifting the mandatory outdoor mask from next week.
Prime Minister Kim Bu-gyeom plans to announce such a policy at a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Corona 19) tomorrow (29th).
A government official said in a phone call with a media outlet, "Even after social distancing such as the number of people at private gatherings and business hours is completely lifted, the number of confirmed cases continues to decrease, and the severity and death rate are stable." Experts judge that it is possible to lift the mask duty in Japan."
Earlier, Ahn Cheol-soo, chairman of the Presidential Transition Committee, said yesterday that he would review the declaration of 'outdoor mask free' within 30 days of the inauguration of the new government.
Regarding the timing of the declaration of release, he said, "I will try to judge the situation by the end of May or so."
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Chairman Ahn's remarks were interpreted as recommending that the current government, which had already announced that it would consider lifting the mandatory outdoor mask tomorrow, not actually lift the obligation.
For this reason, it was observed that the government, which was going to announce whether to lift the mandatory outdoor mask on the 29th, could accept the opinion of the transition committee and pass the decision to the next government.
However, it is reported that the government has come to the conclusion that there is no reason or justification not to take off the mask.
Although it was reviewed after receiving the opinions of the transition committee, including Chairman Ahn's remarks, it was confirmed that the spread of corona had already stabilized despite the lifting of the distance, and considering the situation where the class of infectious diseases was downgraded, it was judged that the conditions for the removal of outdoor masks were considered. will be
Some have already made a notice, and it is reported that they are concerned that delaying this to the next government in a situation where there is good reason to lift the mandatory may be seen as a 'political quarantine'.
If the mandatory outdoor mask is lifted following the lifting of social distancing, most restrictions due to COVID-19, except for the duty to wear an indoor mask, will disappear, taking one step closer to normal recovery.
Accordingly, it is known that Prime Minister Kim will give meaning to the lifting of the mandatory outdoor mask at tomorrow's major headquarters meeting and express his gratitude to the people for observing the quarantine rules in the midst of the Omicron crisis.
(Photo = Insuui Photo Reporters Group, Yonhap News)