COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Meeting
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun is presiding over the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting on COVID-19 response held at the Government Seoul Office Building on April 9, 2021. Photo by Yonhap News
[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Son Seon-hee] Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun stated on the 9th, "After much deliberation, we will maintain the existing social distancing levels and the ban on gatherings of five or more people," but added, "The operating hours of karaoke rooms, gyms, restaurants, and cafes will be maintained as they are for the time being. However, if necessary depending on the spread of infections, the operating hours may be reverted to 9 PM at any time."
Prime Minister Chung chaired the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting at the Government Seoul Office that morning and said, "The wave of the fourth surge, which we have tried so hard to avoid, is approaching and intensifying."
He said, "For entertainment facilities in the metropolitan area and Busan, gatherings are prohibited according to the principles set in social distancing level 2," and added, "Areas outside the metropolitan area will maintain level 1.5, but depending on the epidemic situation, local governments will actively implement step upgrades or various strengthened quarantine measures based on their judgment." In particular, he emphasized, "In the metropolitan area, where the epidemic has been ongoing for a long time, it is urgent to find hidden infection sources accumulated over time," and added, "Those showing suspected COVID-19 symptoms will be required to undergo testing."
Furthermore, he said, "From the perspective of quarantine effectiveness, more important than adjusting social distancing levels is restoring the practical implementation of quarantine rules on the ground," and stressed, "The government will respond with a zero-tolerance policy toward violations until the mandatory basic quarantine rules, enforced from this week, are established throughout daily life."
Prime Minister Chung said, "The social distancing adjustment plan decided today alone may not be sufficient to stop the momentum of the fourth surge," and announced, "The government has been considering extraordinary measures to stably manage quarantine until the majority of the public participates in vaccination. We will report the details to the public early next week."
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