Future Social Distancing: 'Reduce Stages, Loosen Criteria'... Considering Restrictions on Movement, Travel, and Outings

Strengthening Personal Activity Regulations Beyond the 'Ban on Private Gatherings of 5 People'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] The government is considering simplifying the step system and easing the criteria for each step in the future social distancing restructuring. The current 5-step distancing system causes confusion because the behavioral messages for the public at each step are unclear.

Additionally, reflecting the enhanced medical capacity developed through the first to third waves, discussions are underway to ease the criteria for each step.

On the 18th, Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, said at a virtual press briefing on social distancing restructuring, "There have been criticisms that the existing 5-step system has unclear risk levels and behavioral response messages between 0.5 steps," adding, "Although the usual medical response capacity has expanded, the current escalation criteria are criticized for being set too low, based on the level of the second wave."

In particular, the existing distancing system is centered on facility-based regulations, which have accumulated damage to the working-class economy, while regulations on individual behavior are relatively weak compared to overseas. Therefore, the government is reviewing restructuring in the direction of strengthening regulations on individual activities.

Son said, "There is a need to establish a system that distributes social and economic burdens to the entire population by strengthening stepwise management of high-risk activities such as outings, gatherings, and events."

Accordingly, the government plans to minimize bans on gatherings at livelihood facilities while strengthening quarantine management by adjusting density through limits on the number of people. It is also discussing measures to strengthen penalties for violations, such as a 'one-strike-out' policy, to enhance facility autonomy and responsibility.

Foreign countries apply a negative approach, resulting in fewer fairness controversies
Minimizing gathering bans and adjusting density through limits on the number of people

The government expressed difficulties in applying quarantine rules suitable for Korea because each country has different social and cultural characteristics regarding business hour restrictions. For example, it is not easy to clearly explain and convince the public of the two-hour difference when extending business hours from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Son said, "In the U.S., when the COVID-19 situation worsens, restaurants and bars stop operating after 10 p.m., and gatherings are limited to a maximum of four people," adding, "The U.K. and Germany stop operations after 11 p.m., and Japan stops restaurant operations after 8 p.m., applying different business hour restrictions by country."

He also elaborated on fairness controversies arising from different gathering ban targets for multi-use facilities at each step.

Son said, "Foreign countries apply a negative approach during lockdowns, closing all facilities except essential ones such as supermarkets, hospitals, and pharmacies," adding, "In Korea, since the approach is to designate gathering ban targets for multi-use facilities, there have been fairness controversies."

Accordingly, in the future restructuring, while easing facility regulations, methods such as strengthening regulations on individual behavior due to concerns about infection spread are being discussed.

Son explained, "Currently, there are restrictions such as banning private gatherings of five or more people, but additional measures to restrict other individual activities need to be reviewed," adding, "Foreign countries impose restrictions on movement, travel, and outings." He continued, "Countries like New Zealand and Canada apply the concept of 'social bubbles,'" and said, "We are examining the exact regulations."

A social bubble refers to a small group of fewer than 10 people, such as cohabiting family members and coworkers who meet daily, to block chains of cluster infections. Members included in the bubble do not expand the group, and when meeting people outside the bubble, they must strictly observe 2-meter distancing and wear masks.

Son added, "The direction discussed today is a draft for social distancing restructuring and may be supplemented or revised during future discussions."