Quarantine Hangawi... No More, No Less, Just Stay Home

From Today, a 2-Week 'Chuseok Special Quarantine Comprehensive Plan'
Nationwide Social Distancing Level 2 Extended
Customized Measures for Capital Region and Non-Capital Regions

[Asia Economy Reporters Choi Dae-yeol and Cho Hyun-ui] On the first day of the Chuseok special quarantine period, the 28th, the number of new confirmed cases of COVID-19 was recorded at 50. This marks three consecutive days of double-digit cases and is the lowest level since the cluster outbreak centered around churches in the metropolitan area in mid-last month. However, since the number of diagnostic tests decreased over the weekend, it is difficult to definitively say that the downward trend is clear. During the nationwide spread originating from clubs in May and the second wave centered in the metropolitan area last month, the virus spread as movement increased around the holidays. How people spend the upcoming Chuseok holiday is expected to determine future quarantine outcomes.

"This holiday must be different" Quarantine authorities tighten control
Detailed measures considering characteristics of metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas

The key question is whether this downward trend can be maintained during the holiday. The conditions are not easy. Social distancing has been prolonged, increasing public fatigue, and the Chuseok holiday, considered the biggest holiday of the year, is long. Previously, during the club-related cluster outbreak in May and the second wave centered in the metropolitan area last month, infections spread as contacts increased during the holiday period.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19 during this holiday period, the quarantine authorities announced a "Comprehensive Plan for the Chuseok Special Quarantine Period" effective from this day until the 11th of next month. Accordingly, all entertainment facilities nationwide will be closed simultaneously, and social distancing will be mandatory in restaurants, cafes, movie theaters, etc., in the metropolitan area, raising the level of quarantine measures.

This plan applies the core measures of social distancing level 2 nationwide while preparing customized measures for metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. Nationwide, gatherings and events of more than 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors are prohibited. Private gatherings exceeding these numbers, including village festivals, local festivals, folk game competitions for Chuseok, weddings, and alumni meetings, are not allowed. All sports events such as professional baseball, soccer, and ssireum (Korean wrestling) will be held without spectators, and mask-wearing and visitor log management are mandatory in multi-use facilities such as bathhouses and arcades.

On the 28th, the start of the "Chuseok Special Quarantine Period," commuters are walking at Sindorim Station in Guro-gu, Seoul. The government has designated the two weeks from this day until October 11 as the "Chuseok Special Quarantine Period" and is strengthening the social distancing level 2 measures. First, all gatherings and events with more than 50 people indoors or 100 people outdoors are prohibited. Accordingly, village festivals, local festivals, folk games, and 60th birthday parties held for Chuseok cannot proceed if they exceed this number. All sports events, including professional baseball, soccer, and ssireum, will be held without spectators. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

In the metropolitan area, the ban on operation of 11 high-risk facilities such as entertainment bars and karaoke rooms remains in place, while quarantine measures are strengthened for dining, cultural, and leisure facilities that citizens who do not travel or return home may visit. Restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and coffee shops with 20 or more seats indoors must maintain a 1-meter distance between tables. If this is difficult, one of the following must be strictly observed: ▲leaving one seat empty between seats ▲spacing between tables ▲installing partitions or screens between tables.

In movie theaters and performance halls, one seat must be left empty between seats. Amusement parks and water parks must accept only half the number of users through reservation systems or similar methods. In non-metropolitan areas, operation of five types of entertainment facilities where family or alumni gatherings may occur is prohibited. However, from the 5th to the 11th of next month, before the end of the special quarantine period, measures may be adjusted by local governments depending on regional situations.

Park Neung-hoo, the first head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, said on this day, "This special quarantine measure is an unavoidable choice to prevent greater pain and sacrifice," adding, "We deeply apologize to self-employed and small business owners who are enduring economic difficulties due to business suspensions and restrictions."

On the 27th, four days before Chuseok, the largest traditional holiday, visitors paying respects at graves are making early visits at Incheon Family Park in Bupyeong-gu, Incheon. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung, Incheon aymsdream@

New confirmed cases at 50, lowest in 48 days
Downward trend must be maintained during the holiday

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, as of midnight on this day, 40 cases are estimated to be community infections, and 10 cases are imported. It is the first time in 48 days since the 11th of last month (34 cases) that the number of new confirmed cases was below 50. Regarding the Sarang Jeil Church cluster outbreak, the first patient was confirmed on the 12th of last month, and it was confirmed that infections spread mainly among many church members and contacts, after which the virus spread nationwide through urban rallies and other means.

Considering that some screening clinics and private testing institutions are closed over the weekend, reducing the number of diagnostic tests, it is difficult to definitively say that the scale of new confirmed cases has clearly decreased. The number of diagnostic tests conducted on suspected patients was 4,786 the previous day and 6,172 on the 26th, which is about half compared to over 10,000 tests conducted on weekdays. Nevertheless, compared to the 300 to 400 new cases per day in mid-to-late last month, the quarantine authorities judge that the recent domestic situation is indeed on a downward trend.