Masks not needed if you are vaccinated in South Korea

South Korean Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, in a coronavirus response meeting stated that people in country who have given at least one COVID jab will also be allowed to gather in larger numbers starting June.

The move is to encourage elderly residents to get vaccinated as country aims to immunize at least 70 percent of its 52 million people by September.

For the time being, Korea’s immunized population is just seven percent.

He said all quarantine measures would be adjusted once more than 70 percent of residents had received their first dose.

Moreover, South Korea will begin vaccinating the general public aged between 65 and 74 from Thursday in over 12,000 clinics.

Meanwhile, the Asian country reported 707 new cases of the novel coronavirus today, bringing the total tally to 137,682 infections, with 1,940 deaths.

Earlier in America, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) eased mask-wearing guidance for fully vaccinated people and allowed them to stop wearing masks outdoors in crowds and in most indoor settings.

US virus cases are at their lowest rate since September and deaths are at their lowest point since last April while the test positivity rate is also at the lowest point since the coronavirus pandemic began.

However, in a major step toward returning to pre-pandemic life, the CDC and the Biden administration have faced pressure to ease restrictions on fully vaccinated people.

The guidance still calls for wearing masks in crowded indoor settings like buses, planes, hospitals, prisons and homeless shelters, but it will help clear the way for reopening workplaces, schools and other venues even removing the need for social distancing for those who are fully vaccinated.