[Breaking] Seoul City Issues 'Emergency Assembly Restriction Order' for Event Gathering '7,000 Dentists'

Joint Inspection with Gangnam-gu and Effective 'Event Suspension' Warning
Compensation Claims Planned for Violation of Quarantine Rules

The scene at the '16th Seoul International Dental Equipment Exhibition (SIDEX 2019)' held last year.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Seoul Metropolitan Government has issued an emergency "gathering restriction order" following a recommendation to refrain from holding the "17th Seoul International Dental Equipment Exhibition (SIDEX 2020)" scheduled to be held from June 5 to 7 at COEX in Seoul, hosted by the Seoul Dental Association.

Amid concerns over the spread of local infections due to a cluster outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the metropolitan area, the city issued the gathering restriction order on June 4, stating that a large-scale nationwide event by the Seoul Dental Association is inappropriate as healthcare professionals.

Accordingly, if the Seoul Dental Association proceeds with the event, they must comply with the following: ▲ management of visitor logs (name, phone number, ID verification, retention for 4 weeks then disposal) ▲ symptom checks for visitors and staff, prohibition of entry for those with overseas travel history within the last two weeks or symptomatic individuals (logbook required) ▲ mandatory mask-wearing for users and staff ▲ designation of a quarantine manager ▲ disinfecting and ventilating the facility at least twice daily ▲ maintaining a 2-meter (minimum 1 meter) distance between users in queues outside and inside the venue ▲ provision of hand sanitizers at entrances and inside the venue.

It is reported that more than 7,000 dentists had expressed their intention to participate in SIDEX 2020.

Earlier, on June 1, the city sent an official letter titled "Request to Refrain from SIDEX 2020 Due to COVID-19 Spread," stating, "Due to the recent cluster outbreaks of COVID-19 in the metropolitan area, the government is implementing stringent quarantine measures limited to the metropolitan area from May 29 to June 14." The letter urged the Dental Association to consider the special nature and importance of healthcare workers on the front lines of COVID-19 treatment and to refrain from holding the event or to hold it online if proceeding.

However, as the Dental Association expressed its intention to proceed as scheduled until the day before the event's opening, the Seoul Metropolitan Government once again recommended refraining from the event through the gathering restriction order late on June 4. It also added that if the event is held, Seoul City and Gangnam-gu will jointly conduct strong on-site inspections to check compliance with quarantine rules.

Under the current Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, the mayor can restrict or prohibit gatherings of multiple people to prevent infectious diseases, and violating administrative orders may result in a fine of up to 3 million KRW according to Article 80 of the Act.

The city also plans to claim damages for treatment and quarantine costs arising from confirmed cases if prevention rules are violated.