After nearly 3 years since it first hit South Korea, the threat of COVID-19 is finally slowly disappearing.

Starting from January 30, the indoor mask requirements will be lifted in South Korea. 

The mask restriction is one of the last to have been removed.

However, the removal does not apply to public transportation, hospitals, and possibly pharmacies as they are highly enclosed places with high visitor rates. 

While this news comes as a joy to some, it has caused reluctance and hesitance for others.

This is especially affecting teenagers in a certain way.

Teens, especially nowadays, are more likely to feel insecure about their faces, and many described that they were better looking with them on. 

They may feel safer with the masks acting as a cover, or a wall to hide their faces. 

Korea has mandated the law for citizens to wear masks in public ever since mid-October in 2020.

And now, 3 years after that event, South Korea is finally adjusting its strict laws and enforcement. 

These fixes include most of the restrictions and laws active during the pandemic, except for the requirement of a positive-tested victim having to be isolated for 7 days. 

While the restrictions on South Korea have decreased during this new year, some countries are still not able to attain the same freedoms.

COVID-19 has had an immense effect on Hong Kong. 

While the infection numbers have decreased over the past year, there are still numerous guidelines and laws for citizens, and victims of the virus, to follow.

The pandemic has hit Hong Kong hard ever since January of 2020. 

COVID-19 had officially been announced as a virus that would spread to become a pandemic on January 5, 2020. 

However, China had reported a large group of victims earlier in December 2019. 

Ever since then, Hong Kong has enforced the “Zero-Covid” restrictions.

The main goal for this was to have the country not have any patients, and be Covid-free. 

This was mainly because China had enforced this law, and because Hong Kong was, according to Chinese documents, part of China, it was forced to follow suit as well. 

Because of this, restrictions have been severe. 

Masks were required in public, and were to not be taken off, public gatherings of more than two people were restricted at one point, and at the climax of the pandemic, quarantine lasted at least 14 days. 

Citizens were required to have at least two vaccinations, which would be shown when entering public spaces such as restaurants, malls, etc. 

A popular tourist-attracting country, once popular and teeming with people, was turned upside down within the span of 3 years. 

Many countries have already decided for Covid to just be another common virus, much like the flu, and to continue life as they did before the pandemic. 

South Korea has finally joined that community.

However, as mentioned before, it is taking some time for citizens to adjust to this adjustment. 

Most still fear the risk of catching the disease, while others struggle to go back to being “normal”, or the life they had before COVID-19. 

Those afraid of the virus believe that, even if there is no need to wear masks anymore, they feel as if they’re doing a duty for themselves to be protected.

Chaewon Lee
Grade 8
Seoul Foreign School