Indoor Mask Mandate to Be Lifted Early Next Year

The indoor mask mandate is likely to be lifted early next year, the government promised Wednesday, removing the last barrier to a return to normal after the coronavirus pandemic.

Health authorities said they will prepare a roadmap by the end of this month.

Peck Kyong-ran, the chief of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, said the indoor mask mandate will likely be lifted sometime between January and March next year "if conditions are met" such as a higher vaccine uptake.

The announcement comes after some provincial governments said they are minded to lift the indoor mask mandate independently of the central government.

Fears of a major resurgence of COVID-19 are receding while infection numbers remain relatively stable.

A public hearing is planned for the middle of the month.