The Presidential Transition Committee announced on the 27th that it would decide whether to remove the outdoor mask at the end of May, after the inauguration of the new government. The government initially planned to lift the duty to wear an outdoor mask from May 2, considering that the quarantine situation is stable, but the transition committee put the brakes on it. Accordingly, it is highly likely that the related announcement by the quarantine authorities scheduled for the 29th will also be decided as ‘keep current’.
●Acquisition committee, ‘outdoor mask free’ decision a month later
Ahn Cheol-soo, chairman of the transition committee, announced the ‘100-day roadmap for emergency response to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19)’ on the same day. We will decide when to take off the outdoor mask based on the situation in late May.” Chairman Ahn said, “The specific part will be decided by the new government’s Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”
However, regarding the government’s review of the removal of the mandatory outdoor mask from the 2nd of next month, “(The Acquisition Committee) recommended it. It remains to be seen how the government will decide.” Regarding the mandatory indoor mask, Ahn said, “It will last for a while.
The government said on the same day that it would “immediately review” the decision of the transition committee. Son Yeong-rae, head of the social strategy division of the Central Accident Management Headquarters, said at a briefing at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on the same day, “We will comprehensively review various opinions, including those presented by the Commission, and make a decision and announce it on the 29th.”
Contrary to its original policy, the quarantine authorities were keeping pace with the transition team because they were concerned about whether or not to wear an outdoor mask, which could be seen as a conflict between the new and old powers. A government official said, “We are focusing on narrowing differences of opinion.” However, it is said that there is still a trend within the government that ‘let’s end the duty to wear a mask, a symbol of quarantine, within the current government’. For this reason, there is also the view that the final decision on wearing an outdoor mask is still flexible within the government.
●An “Social distancing, no restrictions by industry”
Regarding the preparation of a ‘100-day roadmap’ after the inauguration of the new government, Chairman Ahn explained, “Many experts are anticipating a pandemic caused by other mutated viruses in the fall.”
First of all, within 30 days, measures to secure hospital beds and manpower and support measures to prevent infection in schools, kindergartens, and daycare centers will be prepared in preparation for the fall/winter COVID-19 resurgence. The high-risk group will follow the ‘fast track’ from testing to treatment for COVID-19 so that they will receive a prescription for ‘Paxrovid’, a treatment to be taken on the day of the test, and plan to introduce an additional 1009,000 doses of edible treatment.
The transition committee also plans to redefine the social distancing system within 100 days. Chairman Ahn said, “If confirmed at a cafe, the entire cafe will be closed or boxing and kickboxing will not be done. It will not go that way.”
Meanwhile, the government and the transition committee disagreed over the timing of lifting the 7-day mandatory quarantine for confirmed COVID-19 patients. Initially, the government had stated that it could be lifted from May 23. On the other hand, Chairman Ahn predicted that the time to shift the COVID-19 response to general medical care would be ‘within 50 days from the inauguration of the new government’.
Reporter Joo-Young Jeon aimhigh@donga.com
Correspondent Cho Kyeon-hee becom@donga.com
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