The use of mask outdoors, one of the latest sanitary measures applied in the South Korea, will cease to be compulsory from Monday, the authorities announced today.
It will however remain mandatory on public transport, in enclosed public places open to the public, and when participating in gatherings of more than 50 people outdoors, said Jung Yun-kyong, director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDA).
The official stressed that the lifting of the measure is possible thanks to «the patience and cooperation of citizens over a long period of time».
The spread of the new coronavirus in South Korea has slowed since March 17, when a record 620,000-plus infections were recorded, the peak of the wave attributed to the most contagious Omicron variant and in particular the BA.2 subtype.Apart from the cases, the number of patients in intensive care units is also decreasing and the capacity of the health system is sufficient, Ms Jong explained.
In recent weeks, the authorities have gradually lifted most other restrictive measures, such as the reduction of restaurant and cinema opening hours, limits on the numbers of people who could congregate indoors and outdoors, quarantine for foreign travellers.
In the 24 hours to midnight yesterday (Thursday), 50,568 cases of SARS-CoV-2 were confirmed and 136 patients succumbed to complications of COVID-19.
The death toll of the pandemic reached 22,724 out of a total of 17,194,616 infections, according to the KCDA. The mortality rate remained unchanged at 0.13%.
The cases were down from 57,464 the previous day and 81,043 last Friday.
The number of patients with COVID-19 hospitalised in critical condition decreased to 526 (-26 in 24 hours).
To this stage, 86.8% of the 52 million population of South Korea has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, while 64.5% have received booster doses.
