(Special correspondent Wu Peiru/Reported from Seoul) January 30 was the first day when South Korea’s indoor mask ban was lifted. When interviewed by Korean media, a child said in confusion, “I’m too used to wearing a mask in class, and it would be embarrassing not to wear it suddenly!” The epidemic has been spreading for 3 years. Many elementary school students who entered school during the epidemic have been wearing masks to class since entering school. Now they can avoid wearing masks in class, which makes these elementary school students uncomfortable. In shopping malls and other public places, people took off their masks to shop one after another, but some people continued to wear masks and did not follow the government’s steps to lift the ban.
A primary school student told the Korean media that he felt very comfortable after taking off the mask and didn’t like wearing a mask. Some elementary school students also said that their parents still require him to wear a mask in class because the epidemic has not yet completely ended. Although South Korea has opened some indoor areas to remove masks from the 30th of this month, it also allows various agencies to customize their own mask policies.
The reporter visited the downtown area of Seoul today. Many coffee shops, beauty stores and other businesses have withdrawn the announcements that the mandatory wearing of masks indoors has been withdrawn. Many people go in and out without wearing masks. Businesses are still posting notices requiring masks at the door. There are also some people who enter the subway station without wearing masks, but they will obediently take out their masks and wear them after entering the subway cars. The subway also broadcasts to remind people to wear masks in the cars.
However, the South Korean government also allows local governments and companies to set their own mask policies. Therefore, even if the government lifts the ban, some schools and companies have recently posted announcements to prevent the spread of the indoor epidemic, requiring people entering and leaving to wear masks. Samsung Group also requires employees to still wear masks in conference rooms and commuter buses.
After the first case of new coronary pneumonia appeared in South Korea on January 20 three years ago, it also experienced the same situation as Taiwan, where masks were out of stock and people had to queue up to buy masks. Location.
The South Korean government is also actively increasing the coverage of vaccines. At one time, those who had not been vaccinated or had received less than two doses of the vaccine were not allowed to enter restaurants. According to the statistics of the South Korean government, 88.7% of Koreans over the age of 5 have received two doses Vaccines, and 97% of Koreans already have new crown antibodies due to vaccination or infection.
However, with the pandemic, South Korea’s highest record was more than 620,000 confirmed cases on March 17 last year, and the highest number of deaths on that day was 469. In order to prevent the spread of the epidemic, South Korea once restricted the business hours of restaurants and entertainment venues, and closed the country. It was not until September 26 last year that the outdoor mask policy was fully lifted. In November, tourists were officially allowed to travel freely in Korea without visas and quarantine. .
As for China, where the epidemic was severe on the 2nd of this month, it suddenly changed its epidemic prevention policy and opened its doors wide, causing neighboring countries to be alert. South Korea and China suspended the issuance of short-term visas to each other, causing disputes and public grievances. South Korea has extended the measure of issuing short-term visas to Chinese people until the 28th of the month.
Original URL of Ling Media:On the scene in Seoul / South Korea lifts indoor mandatory wearing of masks on the first day Korean elementary school students: not used to not having masks