S. Korea may go mask-free indoors in phases from mid-January

[Photo by Park Hyung-ki]

South Korea may go mask-free in public indoor spaces, except for hospitals and such places vulnerable to Covid-19 infections, before the Lunar New Year holidays in mid-January under the country’s plan to lift mask mandate in two phases.

The health authorities are discussing whether to begin the first phase of the government‘s two-stage plan to remove the nationwide indoor mask-wearing mandate in mid-January, before the Lunar New Year holidays begin on Jan. 21. The first phase is to allow people to go mask-free in all public indoor spaces except for those high-risk places vulnerable to infections, such as hospitals and public transport.

The authorities are likely to lift the mask-wearing requirement in schools and public offices, but they are still debating whether it should be okay to remove the mask requirements in big retail outlets, such as big-box stores.

The removal of indoor mask-wearing mandate yet depends on the overall pace of Covid-19 activity.