Even on subways and buses,People will take off their masks from the 20th. From the 20th, the obligation to wear indoor masks in public transportation such as buses and subways will be lifted and converted to autonomy. Acting Minister of Public Administration and Security Han Chang-seop said at a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters held at the Sejong Government Complex on the 15th, "We will also lift the obligation to wear masks for public transportation such as buses and subways and open pharmacies in large facilities such as marts and stations. However, the obligation to wear masks to medical institutions, pharmacies, and facilities vulnerable to infection (care hospitals, long-term care institutions, mental health promotion facilities, and welfare facilities for the disabled) will be maintained. Currently, public transportation means that require masks to be worn are buses (including chartered buses), railways, urban railways, passenger ships, ships, taxis, and aircraft.With the lifting of the obligation to wear masks within public transportation, people can on the subway with their bare faces regardless of the traffic density.If individuals feel the risk of infection, they can wear a mask. According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, the average daily number of confirmed patients last week was 10,058, up 7.4% from the previous week, turning to an increase in 11 weeks.However, the number of confirmed patients aged 60 or older, a high-risk group, has decreased for 11 consecutive weeks, and the number of deaths has also decreased for 5 consecutive weeks. Accordingly, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters decided to lift the obligation to wear masks at public transportation and open pharmacies.However, it is a policy that public transportation users, high-risk groups, and people with symptoms during rush hour are advised to wear masks. "In order to fully recover from daily life, protection of high-risk groups such as those aged 60 or older is essential," Han said."The government will minimize the severity and fatality rate by increasing the additional vaccination rate and prescription rate for high-risk groups and prepare the 'COVID-19 Daily Recovery Roadmap' without a hitch. "He added, "We will also resume passenger transportation of Korea-China international passenger ships, which were suspended in January 2020, sequentially from the 20th. "In October 2020, the first year of COVID-19, the quarantine authorities first introduced mandatory measures to wear masks for multi-use facilities such as public transportation, bars, karaoke rooms, performance halls, and academies.Since then, indoor masks have become mandatory at the time for rallies and demonstrations, medical institutions, nursing facilities, and day and night protection facilities, which are the channels for spreading COVID-19. From January 30, 2023, the government lifted the obligation to wear indoor masks at all facilities except ▲ public transportation ▲ medical institutions and pharmacies ▲ facilities vulnerable to infection as the increase in COVID-19 infections and severe patients calmed down. The quarantine authorities predicted the second stage adjustment period, which means the complete release of indoor masks, around May, and the rest of the exceptional facilities planned to be lifted from the obligation to wear them at an appropriate time while examining the aftermath of the first stage adjustment. All right reserved : https://www.donga.com/news/Society/article/all/20230315/118335917/1
