Key Highlights:
- The South Korean government announced that people vaccinated with at least one shot do not require masks outdoors
- The announcement was an attempt to encourage older residents for vaccination
- South Korea aims to immunize at least 70% of its entire population by September
7.7% vaccinated so far
As the world was on the brink of recovering from the effects of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, it witnessed an inevitably uncanny second wave with more severe impacts. With the commencement of vaccination drives, government institutions and healthcare facilitators are encouraging people to get vaccinated to ensure mass prevention from the virus. To ensure maximum immunization, the South Korean government encouraged the older residents for vaccination by announcing that vaccinated people do not require masks outdoors.
‘No Mask’ Announcement
On 26 May, the South Korean government announced that vaccinated people do not need masks while being outdoors. The government added that people who have been vaccinated with at least one COVID vaccine shot need no masks outdoors from July.
During a coronavirus response meeting, President Kim Boo-Kyum stated that people who have been vaccinated with at least one dose will be allowed to gather in large numbers. The allowance of mass gatherings will be done starting from the month of June. He added that all quarantine measures would be adjusted in October once more than 70% of residents have received their first dose of vaccine.
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Vaccine and Vaccination Drive in South Korea
As of 25 May 2021, South Korea has reported 707 confirmed cases of coronavirus, accounting for a total of 137,682 infections with 1940 deaths. South Korea’s vaccination drives have been reportedly affected by global shortages and shipment delays. Currently, about 7.7% of residents have been vaccinated so far.
The government clarified that it aims to immunize at least 70% of the entire population of 52 million people by September. According to South Korea’s Health Minister Kwon Deok-Cheol, more than 60% of people between the age group of 60-74 had enrolled for the vaccination. South Korea will begin vaccinating the age group of 56-74 from May 27. The vaccination drive will be conducted in over 12,000 clinics. On 21 May, the government approved Moderna Inc’s COVID-19 vaccine. According to drug safety Minister Kim Gang-lip, the approval was an attempt at speeding up vaccination processes. Moderna vaccine received a waiver after two of three expert panels recommended approval be granted for the two-dose vaccine.
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