From tomorrow (26th), the obligation to wear an outdoor mask will be completely lifted.
However, the duty to wear an indoor mask will remain for the time being.
The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Corona 19) announced that starting tomorrow, the regulation 'to wear a mask when there are more than 50 spectators at gatherings, performances, or sports events attended by more than 50 people' will disappear.
As a result, all outdoor restrictions among the mandatory mask wearing, which began on October 13, 2020, have been eliminated.
As a result, it is no longer necessary to wear a mask at professional baseball (postseason) this fall, outdoor performances, and large gatherings.
You can also go without a mask on walking trails, hiking trails, outdoor physical education classes, outdoor weddings, subway outdoor platforms, and amusement parks.
The government judges that the risk of transmission is lower than indoors because of natural ventilation outdoors, and the number of new confirmed cases has not changed significantly since the obligation to wear an outdoor mask was lifted in early May.
However, quarantine authorities recommend that people actively wear a mask even outdoors in crowded situations where the risk of infection is relatively high.
In addition, it is recommended that people with symptoms suspected of COVID-19, the elderly, immunocompromised, high-risk groups such as those who are not vaccinated, and people who are in close contact with high-risk groups wear outdoor masks.
In the case of indoor masks, we decided to keep them for the time being in consideration of the possibility of simultaneous outbreaks of COVID-19 and seasonal flu (influenza) in winter.
Currently, Korea is the only country in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) that maintains the mandatory wearing of masks in all indoor places.
Other major countries have made indoor masks compulsory only in medical facilities and some public transport, and have loosened them all indoors.
The National Infectious Disease Crisis Response Advisory Committee, an expert group, also has differing opinions on the removal of indoor masks.