Some Things to Consider Before You Go Completely Mask-Free

Speaking at yesterday’s national COVID-19 daily update, the National Health Commission State Council announced that "there is no need to wear masks in areas of China categorized as low-risk, provided there is adequate airflow/ventilation and appropriate social distancing can be maintained."

The news marks a further loosening of mask regulations, which were last discussed on May 7, allowing Beijingers to go mask-free when partaking in non-contact sports such as running, badminton, or tennis.

In addition to those, examples where masks are now in theory no longer necessary include outdoors in parks, less crowded sidewalks and public areas, sports fields, offices, meeting rooms, construction sites, and schools.

However, they added that under the following three conditions, masks must continue to be worn:

1. In tight/closed/crowded public areas, on public transport, in elevators, or in any place where lots of people congregate;
2. If you feel ill, especially if you have a cough or fever;
3. In specially designated areas such as hospitals.

With that in mind, before you cast away your masks in breathe-free glee, consider the following:

1. Local enforcement across the city can and will vary. This message will take a while to percolate through communities and you can still expect to be hassled if you try to enter certain places without a mask.
2. As the capital city, Beijing often applies more stringent standards than other areas. Example: Last week the national Ministry of Education stated that masks were no longer necessary on campus, but Beijing’s education commission said they were.
3. The wording of the State Council's message is vague and open to many interpretations. Given that most places in Beijing now have lots of people, are these considered crowded enough to require a mask?
4. For now, plan on continuing to wear a mask when away from home, or at the very least have a mask with you at all times even when you think it's not necessary (you'll then be able to board public transport or a Didi if you find yourself with a sudden need to travel). Finally, be tolerant of frontline staff whose job entails making sure public spaces are safe, and if they ask you to mask up, just do it. It's not worth the potential fallout.

READ: Most Beijing Students to Return by Jun 8, University Campuses Reopen Jun 6

Images: Business Line