Prime Minister Jeong: "Maintain Social Distancing Level 2 in Seoul Metropolitan Area... Suspend Operation of Saunas and Indoor Sports Facilities" (Update)

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun held an emergency press briefing on the afternoon of the 29th at the Government Seoul Office Building to announce strengthened quarantine measures related to the third wave of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). The briefing was conducted with the attendance of Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo and Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency Jung Eun-kyeong. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun announced on the afternoon of the 29th at a press briefing on overcoming the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) that "while maintaining the level 2 social distancing measures in the metropolitan area, we will strengthen quarantine measures for facilities where cluster infections have occurred and those with high risk, especially activities with high risk centered on the younger generation."

On the same day, Prime Minister Chung presided over the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting on COVID-19 and discussed with central government ministries and 17 metropolitan local governments at the government Seoul office video conference room the following: ▲current COVID-19 status and measures in major local governments ▲adjustment plans for social distancing ▲preparations for the college entrance exam and special situation management plans ▲strengthening COVID-19 quarantine management in correctional facilities.

The government plans to strengthen quarantine measures for facilities where recent cluster infections have occurred or that have high risk, and for high-risk activities mainly among the younger generation in the metropolitan area from 0:00 on the 1st of next month until 12:00 noon on the 7th (the end of the level 2 measures in the metropolitan area).

Prime Minister Chung said, "We will strengthen quarantine measures for bathhouses, indoor sports facilities, academies, and private tutoring centers," and added, "Sauna and hanjeungmak facilities (sweat rooms) will be ordered to suspend operations."

He announced, "From the 1st of next month, intense GX-type facilities such as Zumba, Tae Bo, spinning, aerobics, step, and kickboxing will be prohibited from gathering."

He continued, "Wind instrument and singing lessons conducted at academies, private tutoring centers, and cultural centers will be banned. However, considering the 2021 academic year university entrance exam schedule, lessons for university entrance exam preparation are excluded."

Prime Minister Chung stated, "Complex convenience facilities such as gyms, saunas, cafes, and reading rooms within apartment and multi-family housing complexes will be ordered to suspend operations."

The government plans to raise the level of 'year-end quarantine' measures to the maximum.

Prime Minister Chung announced, "To block the spread of infection mainly among the younger generation, year-end and New Year events or parties hosted at lodging facilities such as hotels, party rooms, and guesthouses will all be banned."

He added, "In addition, additional quarantine measures for various types of parties held by individuals will be reviewed through consultations among related ministries."

Prime Minister Chung emphasized, "Residents in the metropolitan area are requested to refrain from all gatherings and appointments," and strongly recommended, "Especially private gatherings such as dinners, alumni meetings, and club meetings with 10 or more people should be canceled."

For non-metropolitan areas, all regions will be raised to level 1.5 from 0:00 on the 1st of next month until 12:00 noon on the 14th. Depending on the local situation, local governments will actively implement raising to level 2 and strengthening quarantine measures by industry and facility.

A government official explained, "When raised to level 2, operations of about 25,000 entertainment facilities, about 470,000 restaurants and cafes, about 14,000 singing practice rooms, and about 28,000 indoor sports facilities in non-metropolitan areas will be restricted, totaling about 600,000 to 700,000 facilities."

The government stated, "Especially considering the continuous spread of community transmission in Busan, Gangwon Yeongseo region, Gyeongnam Province, Chungnam Province, and Jeonbuk Province, local governments will be actively encouraged to raise social distancing to level 2 for the entire region or areas where outbreaks are concentrated."

Quarantine measures for high-risk facilities such as saunas, indoor sports facilities, academies, and high-risk activities such as parties will be strengthened by local governments.

A government official said, "Even in regions implementing level 1.5, additional mandatory level 2 quarantine rules such as banning food consumption in saunas will be enforced," and "In regions raised to level 2, quarantine strengthening measures applied in the metropolitan area, such as banning gatherings in intense GX-type indoor sports facilities and suspending sauna and hanjeungmak operations in bathhouses, will be implemented together."

Prime Minister Chung appealed, "It is time to implement K-Quarantine Season 2," and stressed, "We desperately need the spirit of 'Corona Out,' not 'With Corona.'"