Social Distancing Measures Expanded Again
Complete Suspension of Public Facility Operations
Cinemas and PC Rooms Must Close After 9 PM
Public Transportation Reduced by 30%
"Goal to Keep Daily Average Cases Below 100 Within 2 Weeks"
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] The Seoul Metropolitan Government has declared a "stop after 9 PM" measure to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Starting from the 5th for two weeks, all public facilities operated by Seoul city, autonomous districts, and investment and foundation institutions will be completely shut down, and general management facilities such as movie theaters, PC rooms, and study rooms will close after 9 PM. Public transportation will also see an expanded reduction scale to 30%.
Seo Jeong-hyeop, Acting Mayor of Seoul, said in an emergency briefing on the afternoon of the 4th, "Seoul is currently facing a life-or-death crisis. There is no place left to retreat. From tomorrow, Seoul will stop after 9 PM."
"City lights off after 9 PM"... Business suspension and public transportation reduction regardless of industry
As of midnight on the day, the number of new COVID-19 confirmed cases in Seoul was a record daily high of 295. An additional 167 confirmed cases were reported from midnight to 2 PM on the same day.
According to this measure, the scope of business suspension will expand beyond the previously restricted facilities such as restaurants, indoor sports facilities, and convenience facilities within apartments that were already closed after 9 PM, to include shops, movie theaters, PC rooms, arcades, academies, study rooms, study cafes, amusement parks, hair salons, marts, and department stores. For academies and private tutoring centers, online classes before 9 PM are also strongly recommended. However, small marts under 300㎡ for essential daily necessities and takeout/delivery from restaurants will be allowed.
On the 4th, as the third wave of the novel coronavirus infection shows an explosive spread, citizens are waiting to get tested at the COVID-19 screening clinic at Dongjak-gu Public Health Center in Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@
All 66 public cultural facilities, 114 youth facilities, and 1,114 public sports facilities in Seoul will be completely closed regardless of time. This includes cultural centers and children's play facilities inside marts and department stores, as well as indoor standing performance halls. Social welfare facilities will operate only some unavoidable services to maintain care.
The reduction of nighttime public transportation after 9 PM will be expanded to 30%. City buses will immediately begin reduced operation from the 5th, and subways will start reductions from Tuesday the 8th. There is also a plan to advance the last subway train by one hour in emergency situations. Public institutions will implement 50% remote work and staggered commuting hours.
Acting Mayor Seo appealed, "I earnestly ask citizens to voluntarily cancel or postpone small gatherings and meetings such as winter season meetings, various dinners, and club activities."
All-out effort to secure hospital beds... 150 temporary container beds to be operated
With the rapid increase in confirmed cases, securing hospital beds has become an urgent task. According to the city, as of 8 PM the previous day, the bed occupancy rate at infectious disease-dedicated hospitals in the metropolitan area was 71.2%, and in Seoul, it was 79.8%. Of the 61 dedicated treatment beds for severe patients in Seoul, 53 are in use, and of the 1,473 beds in residential treatment centers for mild patients, 1,098 are occupied.
The city plans to secure an additional 107 general hospital beds, including adding the Seoul Eastern Municipal Hospital as a dedicated COVID-19 infectious disease hospital starting next week. In particular, temporary beds using containers will be installed in unused spaces of municipal hospitals. Starting with 48 beds at Seoul Medical Center on the 10th, a total of 150 temporary beds will be operated across three locations including the Seoul Medical Center branch and Seobuk Hospital.
Additionally, the city plans to expand autonomous district residential treatment centers so that each of the 25 districts will have one residential treatment center. Accordingly, asymptomatic patients under 49 years old will be treated at district residential treatment centers, while asymptomatic patients aged 50 and over or mild patients will be treated at city-operated residential treatment centers.
"Life-or-death crisis... Citizens' safety and lives are top priority" Goal to reduce daily average to under 100 within 2 weeks
Acting Mayor Seo appealed that this measure is an unavoidable step for the safety and lives of citizens and urged active participation. He said, "This is a preemptive emergency measure to stop movement and activities except for the minimum economic and social activities necessary for livelihood," and "This measure will be fully implemented from midnight on the 5th for two weeks."
He added, "Considering the pain of self-employed and small business owners, we have tried to devise quarantine measures within the scope of maximum economic circulation, but now protecting citizens' safety and lives is the top priority," emphasizing, "The goal is to reduce the daily average number of confirmed cases to below 100 within two weeks."
Finally, Acting Mayor Seo said, "This will be a painful time involving various inconveniences for citizens and excruciating pain for self-employed and small business owners," but also expressed hope, "If the quarantine authorities and citizens become a 'one team' and unite in will and action, the fire of COVID-19 spread will be extinguished, and the lights of daily life will be turned on again soon," repeatedly urging citizens' cooperation.
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