On Friday, South Korea announced that it would ease most of the COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions from next week as the Omicron surge seems to weaken.

The midnight curfew on restaurants, other businesses and restrictions on the number of people being allowed in private gatherings would be removed from April 18, though wearing masks indoors would remain mandatory. The decision on wearing masks outdoors would be taken after observing the COVID situation.

The peak of the Omicron wave seems to have passed in mid-March, as the country‘s daily infections declined below 150,000 on Thursday. As a protective measure, the government on Wednesday announced its plan to provide a second COVID-19 booster shot for people aged 60 and above (Source: Reuters, April 15, 2022)