Covid-19: South Korea cautiously ends the obligation to wear the mask outdoors
People walk along the Cheonggye stream in Seoul on May 2, 2022, after South Korea lifted the outdoor mask requirement in response to a steady decline in Covid-19 cases.
AFP - JUNG YEON-JE
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
Since Monday, South Koreans are no longer required to wear the mask outdoors.
The country, often presented as a model in the fight against the pandemic, has managed to get through the various epidemic waves while keeping a very low mortality rate.
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With our correspondent in Seoul
,
Nicolas Rocca
As the number of cases continues to drop, South Koreans could take advantage of a sunny Monday to
drop the mask
for the first time since October 2020. "
All of this is possible thanks to the patience and cooperation of the people on long term
,” said Jeong Eun-kyeong, director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.
But at first glance, it was hard to see that wearing a mask was no longer mandatory outdoors.
Most of the inhabitants of the capital
preferred to continue to protect themselves
.
"
I don't feel safe walking down the street without my mask.
The Covid situation here is always complicated and then I still have to carry it inside so I don't see the point of taking it off to put
it back on , ”says Kaeun, in her thirties.
However, with only 20,000 new cases on Monday, South Korea was experiencing the lowest level of spread of the virus in three months.
“
I am very happy and relieved
”
JeonQ was looking forward to this day.
“
I am very happy and relieved because I never liked wearing a mask outside, I was just waiting to be able to be freed from this constraint
”, he rejoices.
Youna also preferred to take advantage of the lifting of the ban, but she did not expect to see so many of her fellow citizens keep the mask outside: "
I was very happy this morning to be able to take off my mask, but when I went out and saw that everyone was wearing it, which put me off a bit, but I ended up taking it off anyway.
»
After two years of the pandemic, health habits die hard in South Korea, perhaps
one of the reasons for the country's success in fighting the virus.
The mask remains however compulsory in transport, inside public places as well as during gatherings of more than 50 people.
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