Covid-19: put down the masks in interior spaces in South Korea

In South Korea, wearing a mask will no longer be mandatory in most indoor spaces - except in public transport and medical facilities - from January 30, 2023. Getty Images - Flash Parker

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

It is one of the last countries to lift the mask.

South Korea announced, this Friday, January 20, to end the obligation to wear the mask inside, with the exception of public transport and hospitals.

A very symbolic decision on the part of the authorities who have managed to limit the spread of the virus without resorting to containment.

A news that comes on the eve of the Lunar New Year.  

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With our correspondent in Seoul

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Wearing a mask indoors will no longer be compulsory from January 30, 2023, but still “recommended”.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's announcement is highly symbolic, as it lifts one of the last health restrictions in place, three years to the day after the first case of Covid was detected in the country.

If hospitals and public transport are not affected by the end of the obligation, this decision does not seem to be unanimous in the country.

It even seems hard to believe as the mask remains present on the face of a large part of South Koreans who continue to wear it outside, despite the end of the obligation last May.

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A poll carried out in December 2022 showed that more than 65% of respondents planned to keep the mask indoors regardless of the government's decision.

To avoid a massive spread of the virus, the authorities waited until the end of the Lunar New Year celebrations which begin this weekend to make this decision.

To see now if this decision will have a real influence on the behavior of the population, which still does not seem ready to throw the mask.

People who test positive for Covid-19 will still have to self-isolate for seven days.

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• South Korea

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• Coronavirus

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