Seoul, Jan 20 (IANS): South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said on Friday that the country plans to lift the mask mandate for most indoor spaces from January 30, dropping its last remaining Covid pandemic restriction as the daily caseload continues to decline.

The policy will, however, remain in place at hospitals, pharmacies and public transportation, reports Yonhap News Agency.

The government had said earlier it could scrap the indoor mask mandate in phases if at least two of four criteria are met.

Those criteria are a downward trend in new infections, a drop in critically ill cases and deaths, strong medical response capabilities and a high vaccination rate among high-risk groups.

"The government will discuss and confirm the plan to ease the indoor mask mandate starting Jan. 30, with the exception of some facilities," Han said during the government virus response meeting.

He explained three of the four criteria, excluding high vaccination rate among high-risk groups, have been met and that external risk factors were controllable.

The government set the date for the policy change given that in-person meetings will increase during the Lunar New Year holiday, which will last through January 24, Han said.

The Prime Minister urged local authorities to stay vigilant against a temporary spike in infections following the holiday and the change in indoor mask policy.

He also called on the elderly to get vaccinated.

"The importance of vaccination has grown with the easing of the mask mandate," Han said.

"I strongly advise high-risk people aged 60 or older and the elderly residing in high-risk facilities to get vaccinated as soon as possible."