Extension of Quarantine Rule Compliance Period for Hagwon, PC Bang, and Indoor Sports Facilities
Prosecution and Compensation Claims for Confirmed Cases
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Incheon City has extended the prohibition order on gatherings at multi-use facilities such as entertainment bars, karaoke bars, and singing practice rooms until June 7th due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).
According to the city on the 25th, the facilities subject to the prohibition order include 1,082 entertainment bars such as clubs, room salons, stand bars, cabarets, and colatecs; 571 karaoke bars; and 2,363 singing practice rooms including coin karaoke rooms, totaling 4,016 establishments.
The prohibition order applies to all citizens for coin karaoke rooms, while singing practice rooms are subject to the order only for minors under the age of 19. Adults are allowed to use singing practice rooms if they comply with quarantine rules.
The prohibition order is a measure that bans people from gathering at entertainment establishments, effectively a business suspension order.
Originally, in Incheon, the prohibition order period was from May 10 to 24 for entertainment bars, May 14 to 24 for karaoke bars, and May 21 to June 3 for singing practice rooms, but the end date was extended due to the spread of COVID-19.
Along with this, the city has also extended the period for quarantine rule compliance orders and operation restraint recommendations until June 7 for 5,582 academies, 920 PC rooms, and 1,403 indoor sports facilities.
Violations of the prohibition order and quarantine rule compliance orders may result in fines of up to 3 million won under the "Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act."
Incheon City plans to strengthen administrative guidance, management, and supervision of these establishments, and in case of confirmed cases, will take legal action and claim damages.
Mayor Park Namchun said, "We are putting all administrative efforts into expanding the virus containment network significantly and conducting widespread and rapid testing to find hidden sources of COVID-19 infection," and added, "Although this administrative measure will cause difficulties for business owners, we ask for active participation to prevent the spread of COVID-19."
Meanwhile, in Incheon, community infections have spread starting from an academy instructor who was confirmed positive after visiting a club in Itaewon, Seoul, and as of today, the total number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in Incheon has increased to 146.
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