South Korea will drop rules that require people to wear masks in most indoor spaces, authorities said Friday (Jan 20), ending one of the country’s last major pandemic restrictions as COVID-19 cases dwindle.
From Jan 30, it will no longer be mandatory to wear face masks in most indoor spaces, except on public transport and in medical facilities
The mask mandate has been in place since October 2020, and is one of South Korea’s last remaining pandemic-era restrictions, with other rules from business curfews to social distancing long dropped.
The country still makes it mandatory for those who get officially diagnosed with COVID-19 to isolate themselves for seven days.
“The adjustments on the mandatory indoor mask mandate will be implemented from Monday, Jan 30, after the Lunar New Year holiday,” said Jee Young-mee, the head of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.