Government Extends Strict Social Distancing for 2 Weeks... Local Governments Cancel Festivals
Thousands of Flower Viewing Photos Flood Instagram and Other SNS
As the clear spring weather continues, a notice about road closure to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is posted on April 30th at Yeouido Yunjung-ro in Seoul, where cherry blossoms are in full bloom. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@
[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] Due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the government extended the period of intensive social distancing by two weeks. While offline events such as spring flower festivals have been canceled by local governments nationwide, showing active effects of the measures, various certification photos of people enjoying outdoor activities have been posted on social networking services (SNS), revealing subtle differences.
On the 9th, searching for 'cherry blossoms' and 'flower viewing' on Instagram and Facebook yielded thousands of posts. Most were photos taken by people who went on spring outings as the weather slightly warmed up. While some photos simply captured flowers or scenery, a significant number showed two or more people taking pictures together at close distances. This was a scene far removed from the government's social distancing guidelines.
Social distancing is a traditional quarantine concept aimed at minimizing contact between individuals or groups to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. It was emphasized in the United States during the 2009 novel influenza outbreak and the early 20th-century polio epidemic. Our government is also implementing it to curb the spread of COVID-19.
However, as cherry blossoms have recently come into full bloom, certification shots taken at various tourist spots, including Hangang Park, have been continuously posted. While the Yunjungno Cherry Blossom Festival was canceled for the first time in 16 years and Jeju Island plowed under a canola flower field ten times the size of a soccer field, the number of people going on spring outings continues to increase.
Given this situation, the hashtag '#socialdistancingfailure' has even appeared on SNS. It is interpreted as sarcasm directed at those not adhering to social distancing. Netizens criticize, saying, "There are too many people casually wandering around restaurants, cafes, and parks," and "It is frustrating to see people going flower viewing during this crisis."
As the rate of increase in COVID-19 confirmed cases begins to decline, concerns are rising that public awareness of social distancing is becoming dulled. On the Blue House's national petition website, petitions demanding the enforcement of mandatory social distancing have been posted one after another.
Professor Kwak Geum-ju of Seoul National University's Department of Psychology pointed out, "Looking at the posts on SNS, it can be seen that people who are strictly following social distancing are feeling a relative sense of deprivation," adding, "If not careful, the negative crowd psychology toward social distancing could undermine the government's control efforts."
Meanwhile, the government previously decided to extend the practice period of intensive social distancing until the 19th of this month. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun urged compliance with the extended social distancing during the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting on the 6th, emphasizing, "If we become lax now, it is clear that infections will spread, so we had no choice but to choose extension."
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