[Q&A] "Challenging Situation... Difficult to Hastily Ease 'Social Distancing'"

On the 24th, when the COVID-19 alert level was raised to the highest 'Severe' stage and it was reported that a confirmed COVID-19 case attended a National Assembly forum, a notice informing of an indefinite closure was posted on the entrance door of the National Assembly Library. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Along with the closure of kindergartens and daycare centers, the suspension of social welfare facilities has also been extended indefinitely.

Kim Kang-lip, the 1st Chief Coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, stated at a regular briefing held at the Government Sejong Complex on the 1st, "To prevent infections among vulnerable groups, the closure period of social welfare facilities will be extended until the recommended time to resume operations," adding, "The decision on whether to resume operations will be made considering the level of confirmed cases and social distancing policies."

The originally scheduled closure period was until the 5th of this month. Since February 28, 99.3% (110,340 out of 111,101) of all social welfare facilities have been closed.

The recommended closure targets are the 15 types of facilities currently under closure measures: ▲Community Child Centers ▲Together Care Centers ▲Senior Welfare Centers ▲Senior Citizens' Centers ▲Dementia Relief Centers ▲Senior Day and Night Care Institutions ▲Welfare Centers for the Disabled ▲Day Care Facilities for the Disabled ▲Vocational Rehabilitation Facilities for the Disabled ▲Senior Job Programs ▲Disabled Job Programs ▲Self-Support Projects ▲Mental Rehabilitation Facilities ▲Social Welfare Centers ▲Comprehensive Support Centers for Homeless Users.

Chief Coordinator Kim said, "The government plans to continue providing emergency care services even during the closure of welfare facilities," and added, "Facility workers will maintain normal working hours to ensure no disruption in service use, and services such as lunch delivery, welfare checks, and home visit support will be provided reflecting the characteristics of the target groups including children, seniors, and the disabled."

The timing for resuming operations at social welfare facilities remains uncertain. Kim explained, "The decision on whether to resume operations will be made considering the level of confirmed cases and social distancing policies."

◇Below is a Q&A with Chief Coordinator Kim regarding the closure of social welfare facilities

- With 99.3% of all facilities closed, does that mean the remaining facilities are ignoring the government's closure recommendation?

▲Currently, the facilities not closed are mainly job-related institutions for seniors or the disabled, or dementia relief centers. In these cases, thorough quarantine measures are being implemented through local governments according to government policies.

- There are concerns about the infringement of learning rights for low-income, rural, and disabled students who have difficulty attending remote classes due to online school openings.

▲The Ministry of Education, together with frontline schools, is considering and working on this issue. Measures to supplement these problems through gradual expansion are necessary. Discussions are ongoing to ensure that low-income and marginalized groups do not have their learning rights infringed. Specific matters will be explained separately through the Ministry of Education if necessary.

- Is there a possibility of maintaining high-intensity social distancing after the 5th?

▲Due to small-scale group infections and overseas inflows, the current situation is far from easy. In other countries, the number of deaths and confirmed cases is rapidly increasing, making it very difficult to ease social distancing prematurely. Social distancing must be sustained to guarantee children's learning rights. There is a need to continue social distancing for the time being. However, preparations are underway to review a transition to daily life quarantine that balances everyday life and prevention.