S.Korea to drop social-distancing rules except mask mandate

On Apr 15, 2022

South Korea has said it will drop all COVID-19 social distancing rules, except for the requirement to wear masks.

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said in a meeting that, “The business curfew at midnight and the cap on 10 people for private gatherings will be all lifted from next Monday.

“The 299-person limit on events and rallies as well as the 70-percent capacity cap on religious activities will be lifted from April 18, while eating food will be permitted inside movie theaters, indoor sports facilities and religious facilities from April 25.”

According to Kim, wearing mask indoors will be inevitable for a considerable time, noting that decision will be made on whether to lift the outdoor mask mandate two weeks later.

The health authorities estimated that the resurgence, caused by the spread of the Omicron variant and its subvariant BA.2, peaked in the middle of March.

The government will adjust the four-tier infectious disease level of COVID-19 from Class 1 to Class 2 in phases over a four-week period to allow patients to be treated at local clinics and hospitals without quarantine.

Xinhua