Gwangju City Raises Social Distancing to Level 2 from 3rd to 6th

Ordered... Implementation of 10 Major Quarantine Rules

On the afternoon of the 2nd, Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, held an online press conference in the city hall briefing room to announce the elevation of social distancing to Level 2 in response to COVID-19. Photo by Gwangju Metropolitan City

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City has taken the drastic measure of raising social distancing to Level 2 amid the uncontrollable COVID-19 situation.

On the 2nd at 2 p.m., Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong-seop announced through an online briefing on the results of the public-private joint countermeasure committee for COVID-19 response, “From the 3rd to the 6th, we will declare a ‘Gwangju 100-hour pause,’ elevate the COVID-19 response system to ‘Level 2,’ and implement the 10 major quarantine rules.”

Mayor Lee emphasized, “More important than the number of confirmed cases is that while in the past cluster infections occurred mainly in specific locations, recently they have been occurring simultaneously in various places, raising serious concerns about a large-scale spread of community infection.”

With the elevation to social distancing Level 2, all gatherings of more than 100 people are completely banned.

The five types of entertainment facilities (nightclubs, colatecs, karaoke bars, emotional pubs, hunting pubs) are prohibited from gathering, and singing practice rooms, indoor standing concert halls, and direct sales promotion centers (such as door-to-door sales) must cease operations entirely after 9 p.m.

Restaurants are only allowed takeout and delivery after 9 p.m., and cafes are permitted takeout and delivery throughout their business hours.

Bathhouses and arcades/multi-rooms must limit the number of entrants to one person per 8㎡ of facility area.

Indoor sports facilities must stop operations after 9 p.m., and intense group exercises (GX types) and apartment gym facilities are completely banned from operating.

Recreational sports club activities and group sports activities have been completely banned from this day, and amusement parks must limit capacity to one-third of their maximum occupancy.

Academies (including private tutoring centers) and vocational training institutions must choose one of the following: limit the number of people to one per 8㎡ with two-seat spacing, or limit to one per 4㎡ with one-seat spacing, and cease operations after 9 p.m.

Additionally, lessons with a high risk of droplet generation, such as wind instrument and singing lessons, are prohibited.

Wedding halls and funeral halls must comply with one of the following policies: limit the number of people to under 100, or limit to one person per 8㎡ of facility area (the ban on gatherings over 100 people does not apply in this case).

Eating and drinking are prohibited inside public transportation vehicles such as buses, taxis, and subways.

Social welfare facilities must operate at no more than 50% capacity, and visits to nursing homes for the elderly are completely banned. Social welfare facility workers are prohibited from visiting other facilities except for commuting to and from work.

The scope of mask fine enforcement will apply not only outdoors but also throughout indoor areas, as it currently does.

Mayor Lee said, “These measures may cause significant inconvenience and economic losses to small business owners, self-employed individuals, and some citizens, but for the safety of the Gwangju community, please endure and cooperate for just 100 hours (4 days). Let’s create a ‘3-No Gwangju’ with no gatherings, no outings, and no quarantine violations, resulting in no confirmed cases during the next 100 hours.”