Nam Hyun-woo has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2013, mostly covering business and politics. He currently belongs to the Business Desk where he covers topics such as emerging tech, AI, ICT and Korea's chaebol community. Prior to joining the team, he was the paper's correspondent for the presidential office of Korea during the Yoon Suk Yeol and Moon Jae-in administrations.
Korea to decide on outdoor mask requirement in late May
Ahn Cheol-soo, the chairman of the presidential transition committee and its COVID-19 subcommittee, speaks during a press conference at the committee's office in Tongui-dong, Jongno District, Seoul, Wednesday. Joint Press Corps
By Nam Hyun-woo
Government expected to let new administration make decision
By Nam Hyun-woo
The presidential transition committee said Wednesday that it will decide whether to remove Korea's requirement for people to wear face masks outdoors late next month, adding that the requirement to wear masks indoors will continue for a while.
The incumbent Moon Jae-in administration had planned to announce whether it would maintain the requirement to wear face masks outdoors on Friday, but it is anticipated to follow the transition committee's policy direction to minimize public confusion.
“Regarding the requirement to wear face masks outdoors, we plan to make a decision in late May after monitoring how the circumstances unfold,” Ahn said, Wednesday.
“Right now, the number of confirmed COVID-19 patients in Korea is still the highest in the world, so it is difficult to compare our situation with that of other countries where people can take their masks off outdoors. At that time, if it is possible, we may make a decision around the end of May, such as making it compulsory to wear a mask indoors when entering a building, while allowing people to take off the mask outdoors,” he said.
Ahn made this statement while also announcing the incoming Yoon Suk-yeol administration's 100-day COVID-19 emergency response roadmap.
According to the roadmap, the Yoon government will make a decision on the outdoor face mask requirement within 30 days of its inauguration on May 10.
“Regarding its details, the transition committee will let the new government's health ministry and disease control agency set the standards,” Ahn said. “We believe it will be possible when Korea's number of COVID-19 patients goes down to the level of other countries that no longer require people to wear face masks outdoors.”
The number of new COVID-19 infections for Monday, stood at 76,787, down from the previous day's 80,361 cases. The daily infections peaked at 621,178 on March 17.
Also on Wednesday, Korea's Central Disaster Management Headquarters said in a press briefing that it would announce whether to ease the outdoor face mask requirement on Friday.
“We weren't able to catch up with the transition committee's announcement because this briefing was held at the same time,” an official at the disaster management headquarters said.
“However, we don't think there will be a big difference in the overall direction of the measures. … During the decision making process, we will comprehensively review various ideas, including the one from the transition committee,” the official said.
It had been reported that the current government has been contemplating whether to maintain the current requirement or to lift it potentially as early as next week.
Earlier this month, Korea eased most of its social distancing measures for COVID-19, such as limiting businesses' operating hours or eating snacks in public spaces such as movie theaters, planes, long-distance trains and inter-regional buses. Following these decisions, public expectations has been growing that they might no longer have to wear face masks outdoors at some point soon.
However, there are also voices calling for a cautious approach, citing experts' forecast that Korea may see another wave of COVID-19 infections this fall.
Ahn, who is a former medical doctor, also noted that there are chances of another wave of mass infections this fall or winter, thus requesting that the government reflect the committee's recommendation when making this week's decisions.
“This is a recommendation to the government,” Ahn said. “So far, the incumbent administration has been cooperating as we recommended. Our recommendation is that it will be appropriate to watch progress for about 20 days and then make decision, rather than removing face masks next week.”
President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol takes off his face mask during a meeting with officials of Airport Railroad at its headquarters in Incheon, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps
Along with the plan for face masks, the 100-day roadmap includes changes in the government's coronavirus control strategy under the incoming administration. The government will provide assistance to owners of facilities used by the public to set up air ventilation systems, as well as provide Paxlovid COVID-19 drugs to high-risk groups on the day they test positive, according to the roadmap.
Ahn also noted that the Yoon government will not impose measures that restrict certain businesses' operating hours, even if the COVID-19 situation in the country worsens in the future.
“The current COVID-19 measures have been clumsy. Previously all cafes or health clubs had been ordered to close,” Ahn said. “I will not go in the same way as before. If we have to, we will adopt social distancing measures based on scientific standards such as population density, closeness proximity and whether the space is enclosed.”