Metropolitan Area Level 2.5 and Non-Metropolitan Level 2 Extended Until the 17th
"Rather Raise to Level 3" Successive 청원 to the Blue House
A food street in downtown Seoul appears quiet despite it being lunchtime. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@
[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] "Wouldn't it have been better if the 3rd level had been implemented earlier?"
As the government decided to extend the social distancing measure at level 2.5 in the Seoul metropolitan area, some citizens are expressing fatigue and urging for stronger quarantine guidelines. There is a call to rekindle the vigilance that has loosened due to the prolonged COVID-19 situation.
The government has so far taken a negative stance on raising the level to 3, citing concerns that "small and medium-sized self-employed businesses are expected to suffer enormous damage." However, some self-employed individuals argue, "Whether it's level 2.5 or level 3, the damage is the same," and insist, "It is better to raise the level to 3 to reduce the spread." Experts also emphasized the need for an additional step up in social distancing levels.
The government decided to extend the social distancing measures currently applied at level 2.5 in the Seoul metropolitan area and level 2 in non-metropolitan areas for two weeks until the 17th.
At a regular briefing on the 2nd, Kwon Deokcheol, the 1st head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, stated, "The goal of this measure is to reverse the current daily patient count of around 1,000 to a downward trend, minimize the scale of the outbreak, and stabilize the situation before vaccinations begin in February."
He added, "Considering that quarantine and medical response capabilities have been maintained so far and the impact on the common economy, we will not raise the level to 3, which involves banning gatherings at numerous multi-use facilities, but will maintain a distancing system that minimizes private meetings and contacts."
Along with the distancing measures, the government will expand the ban on private gatherings of five or more people nationwide for two weeks. This raises the quarantine level from a recommendation to cancel gatherings to a prohibition. However, since the metropolitan area has already received prohibition orders from local governments, this guideline will continue as is.
A food street in downtown Seoul appears quiet despite it being lunchtime. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@
Some argue that extending the 2.5-level distancing measure further will have little effect. With the third wave of COVID-19 not subsiding and the influx of the UK variant virus, stronger quarantine measures are necessary.
Office worker Kim (28) said, "I don't think extending distancing will help. The number of confirmed cases keeps hovering around 1,000, which proves that level 2.5 distancing is ineffective," and added, "If stronger measures had been taken when signs of the third wave appeared, the current severity of COVID-19 spread wouldn't be this bad."
He continued, "The transmission power of the coronavirus is stronger in winter, and now the variant virus has appeared. If this variant spreads in the metropolitan area, it will be uncontrollable. We need to raise distancing to level 3 even now."
Additionally, some citizens, fatigued by the prolonged COVID-19 situation, are defying distancing rules by gathering for drinking parties or traveling with acquaintances. Early on the 3rd, 70 people, including those under self-quarantine, were caught drinking at a club in Busan, and on the 27th of last month, 19 illegal foreign residents held a party together in Daegu.
As a result, citizens who comply with the government's quarantine guidelines express frustration and demand raising to level 3. Another office worker Lee (31) said, "I see many photos of acquaintances traveling for the New Year on SNS. Every time I see such posts, I feel frustrated," and added, "Only those who follow the guidelines become fools. We need a short but intense raise to level 3."
Self-employed individuals are also urging for a raise to level 3. Especially owners of gyms and Pilates studios say they face threats to their livelihoods due to repeated gathering bans with virtually no new members since the COVID-19 outbreak.
On the Blue House's public petition board, self-employed people continue to appeal about difficulties caused by the extension of social distancing at level 2.5.
On the 28th of last month, a petitioner posted a petition titled "Please do not turn a blind eye to the tears of self-employed people and the workers who depend on them for their livelihood," saying, "You say you are not raising to level 3 because of small business owners, but is it really for them?" and lamented, "If the government had considered us and the employees working in our industry even a little, they should have raised to level 3 one or two weeks ago and lifted the gathering ban by the promised date of December 29."
He continued, "The term 'K-quarantine' is not a proud word but a heartbreaking word born from the sacrifices of powerless and insignificant people," and urged, "If you pity people like us even a little, please stop forcing sacrifices and take equitable quarantine measures so we can breathe."
Experts point out the need for an additional step up in distancing levels. Professor Kim Wooju, an infectious disease specialist at Korea University Guro Hospital, said, "It is unfortunate that health authorities are cautious about raising to level 3 for the economy," and emphasized, "In the current situation, distancing should be raised to level 3 for two weeks to reduce confirmed cases."
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