<Anchor>



From the 30th of this month after the Lunar New Year holiday, you do not need to wear a mask in most indoor spaces.

There is great anticipation that the daily life that has changed due to Corona will return to its original place in 2 years and 3 months, but in some places you still have to wear a mask as you do now.



This is Yoo Seung-hyun, a medical reporter.



<Reporter> The



point at which indoor masks change from mandatory to recommended is from the 30th.



In October 2020, it has been 2 years and 3 months since wearing a mask was mandatory, especially in multi-use facilities.



Among the four adjustment indicators set by the government last month, new confirmed cases decreased for more than two weeks in a row, a decrease in severely ill patients and deaths, and a 50% increase in intensive care unit availability, these three have already been met earlier this month.



The vaccination rate for the elderly did not meet the target at 34.5%, but the vaccination rate for vulnerable facilities exceeded the target of 60% last week.



The government judged that the domestic corona epidemic had passed its peak and the domestic impact of arrivals from China was limited.



Although the conditions for mitigation have been met immediately, a 10-day grace period was set in preparation for increased travel during the Lunar New Year holidays.



[Han Deok-soo/Prime Minister: During the Lunar New Year holiday last year, the weekly average number of confirmed cases increased significantly.

If the wearing obligation is further eased, there is a possibility that the number of confirmed cases will temporarily increase.]



Mask wearing obligations remain as they are now in public transportation, medical institutions, pharmacies, and facilities vulnerable to infection.



It is expected that it will take a little more time before mask wearing becomes voluntary in all rooms.



[Jeong Ki-seok/Corona 19 Special Response Team: We have to complete the second stage of the mask, we have to adjust the quarantine, and there are many things left, but we see it like this, 'a big milestone has been reached'.]



The health authorities said that the number of confirmed cases could increase again for the time being, 60 Improved vaccination was requested for the elderly.



(Video coverage: Yoo Dong-hyeok · Park Young-il, video editing: Kim Ho-jin, CG: Ryu Sang-soo)