From the 30th, indoor mask wearing will be eased from 'mandatory' to 'recommended'.
Prime Minister Han Deok-soo said at the opening remarks at the Corona 19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting presided over at the Seoul Government Complex, "Today's critical script discusses and confirms a plan to ease the obligation to wear masks indoors from the 30th except for some facilities. I plan to do it," he said.
Prime Minister Han said, "Out of the four indicators for adjusting the indoor mask-wearing obligation determined in December last year, three of 'stabilization of patient occurrence', 'reduction of serious illness and death', and 'stable medical response capacity' were met, and external risk factors were sufficiently managed. It was judged as possible,” he explained.
Prime Minister Han said that the relaxation time was decided after the holiday, taking into account the increase in travel and face-to-face contact during the Lunar New Year holiday.
However, to protect the vulnerable from infection, the obligation to wear masks at medical institutions, pharmacies, facilities vulnerable to infection, and public transportation will remain in place for the time being.
Prime Minister Han said in these regions, "We will actively review whether to switch to the recommendation according to the trend of infection in the future."
Prime Minister Han said, "During the Lunar New Year holiday last year, the weekly average daily average number of confirmed cases increased significantly, and if the mandatory wearing of indoor masks is added, there is a possibility that the number of confirmed cases will increase temporarily." .
He continued, “With the easing of the mask-wearing obligation, the importance of vaccination has increased.”