The government is planning to completely lift the obligation to wear some remaining outdoor masks in the wake of the calming down of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The government plans to announce measures to ease the quarantine measures this week as early as this week.
However, with regard to the indoor mask duty, there is still a difference of opinion among experts about the timing and scope, so further discussions are likely to continue.
According to the quarantine authorities on the 22nd, the National Infectious Disease Crisis Response Advisory Committee, a group of experts who act as official advisors on infectious disease policies, discussed the obligation to wear a mask at a meeting yesterday, and gave the opinion that it is desirable to completely lift the obligation to wear an outdoor mask. It is said to have been delivered.
The government lifted the outdoor mask duty in May, but maintained the duty at 'events and gatherings of 50 or more people' in consideration of the density.
Events with 50 or more people typically include sports events and outdoor performances.
However, it is difficult to check whether there are more than 50 people outdoors, and it has been pointed out that this duty is not effective in a situation where food can be consumed at sports venues where large numbers of people gather.
Compared to the lifting of the mandatory indoor mask, the 'complete removal of the outdoor mask' is considered as the priority given that the burden of quarantine is low and the public's sensibility is high.
As the government has decided and announced the quarantine policy after collecting the opinions of the Infectious Disease Advisory Committee, the full release of outdoor masks is expected to be officially announced soon.
It is expected that penalties such as fines for negligence will be eliminated and the emphasis will be on 'self-recommendation'.
There is a difference of opinion among experts inside the Infectious Disease Advisory Committee regarding the lifting of the mandatory wearing of indoor masks.
A consensus was formed on the principle that the indoor mask duty should also be lifted, but the timing and gradual scope were divided.
While some experts argued that it is sufficient to lift the current duty to wear a mask indoors before winter comes with the re-infestation calming down, other experts are of the opinion that it is too early to consider it early next year as the simultaneous epidemic of COVID-19 and seasonal flu is predicted. .
Experts who think that it is okay to lift the duty to wear an indoor mask now say that many people voluntarily wear a mask outdoors even after the duty to wear an outdoor mask is lifted in May. It is known that he expressed an opinion to the effect that "it is better to leave it to you."
A plurality of officials said, "Most experts agree with the general consensus that the obligation to wear indoor masks should be lifted someday, but they have different opinions on the timing." Awareness has gathered that this is growing,” he said.
Even if the duty to wear an indoor mask is lifted, it is highly likely that the duty will remain in some high-risk facilities and medical institutions.
In a briefing today, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) Commissioner Baek Kyung-ran said, "At the advisory committee to respond to the infectious disease crisis, everyone agreed that the (necessity) was very high about the easing of the mask wearing obligation."