Kwon Deok-cheol, the 1st Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) and Minister of Health and Welfare, is conducting a non-face-to-face briefing on the COVID-19 response status at the Government Seoul Office briefing room on the 9th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] As the spread of COVID-19 intensifies, the government has decided to extend the current 'social distancing' measures (Level 2 in the metropolitan area and Level 1.5 in non-metropolitan areas) for three more weeks. The ban on private gatherings of five or more people and the operating hour restrictions for restaurants and cafes will also be maintained until 10 PM.
However, in areas with severe outbreaks such as the metropolitan area and Busan, entertainment facilities like karaoke bars, colatecs, and hunting pubs will be prohibited from operating starting next week. If the number of confirmed cases continues to rise, additional measures such as raising the metropolitan area's social distancing to Level 2.5 will be implemented.
On the morning of the 9th, Kwon Deok-cheol, Minister of Health and Welfare, stated at a regular briefing held at the Seoul Government Complex, "Infections are occurring in almost all spaces of our daily lives. It is now difficult to find places completely safe from COVID-19. We will maintain the current Level 2 in the metropolitan area and Level 1.5 in non-metropolitan areas, but aim to effectively reduce risk by restricting facilities and activities where infections frequently occur."
The government judged that the COVID-19 spread is ongoing and that improvement in the situation within a short time is unlikely. Therefore, the usual two-week social distancing period will be extended to three weeks, applying from the 12th of this month to the 2nd of next month. Regarding this, Son Young-rae, Social Strategy Team Leader of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, explained, "The reason for setting it to three weeks is because we see the current period as a spreading phase, so the possibility of easing is low. The two-week interval has repeatedly raised expectations for easing, causing fatigue and administrative costs. Hence, a longer period was set."
Confirmed cases already meeting nationwide Level 2.5 criteria... "Maintaining current level considering other indicators"
Son Young-rae, Head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters [Image source=Yonhap News]
However, as the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that 671 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed domestically as of midnight, bringing the total to 108,269, and with 644 domestic cases recorded, the nationwide weekly average of domestic cases?a key indicator for adjusting social distancing levels?rose from 543 the previous day to 559. This has led to criticism that social distancing levels should be strengthened quickly. The current weekly average already meets the Level 2.5 elevation criteria (400?500 or more cases or rapid doubling), and the upper limit of confirmed cases has been far exceeded.
Regarding this, Son Young-rae explained, "The criteria for raising social distancing levels primarily consider the daily average number of cases along with other important indicators." He described the current situation as having medical system capacity and that infections are mainly due to small-scale contacts, with infections in multi-use facilities gradually increasing. Therefore, "Efforts to block spread through widespread closure or operational restrictions of multi-use facilities are likely to be less effective." He added, "Please understand that the adjustment of the social distancing system includes warnings for problematic places such as bans on gatherings at entertainment facilities and consideration of 9 PM operating restrictions."
Son also added that if the situation worsens and the epidemic trend continues to rise, "even within the three-week period, we will discuss 9 PM operating restrictions or raising the metropolitan area to Level 2.5." It is known that the government is internally considering starting adjustments to Level 2.5 in the metropolitan area and Level 2 in non-metropolitan areas if the weekly daily average exceeds 800, the lower threshold for Level 3 elevation.
Ban on gatherings at entertainment facilities in metropolitan area and Busan... May be replaced by 10 PM operating restrictions depending on efforts
High-intensity regulations will be implemented on entertainment facilities, identified as a major factor in recent infection spread. Minister Kwon said, "We will apply bans on gatherings at entertainment facilities where multiple cluster infections have occurred and quarantine rules are not well followed."
Previously, the government had lifted bans on gatherings for five types of entertainment facilities (karaoke bars, danran pubs, colatecs, emotional pubs, hunting pubs) and hold'em pubs under Level 2, provided they strictly followed key quarantine rules since February. However, following intensive police crackdowns starting on the 5th, 206 people were booked for violating quarantine guidelines within two days, and cluster infections at entertainment bars in Busan reached 318 confirmed cases as of the previous day. As cluster infections linked to entertainment facilities grew uncontrollably, the government decided to reinstate the ban on gatherings.
However, controversy arose as the government announced that depending on the thoroughness of quarantine compliance and autonomous efforts by entertainment facilities, local governments could replace the ban on gatherings with operating hour restrictions until 10 PM, thus easing the measures.
Regarding this, Son Young-rae explained, "We have been informed that the quarantine management situation varies by region for entertainment facilities." In some areas, associations and businesses manage quarantine autonomously and cooperate well with local governments, maintaining quarantine rules without cluster infections, while problematic areas have also emerged. This measure takes such differences into account. Accordingly, the ban on gatherings at entertainment facilities will be implemented in the metropolitan area and Busan starting the 12th, while Daejeon is currently discussing whether to impose a ban.
The adjustment plan was reported to include strengthening operating hour restrictions from 10 PM back to 9 PM after an increase in cluster infections following the easing to 10 PM. However, after careful consideration, this was postponed.
Prime Minister Jeong said, "Operating hours for singing rooms, gyms, restaurants, and cafes will be maintained as they are for the time being, but if necessary, they will be reverted to 9 PM at any time," expressing the intention to strengthen operating hour restrictions if the spread worsens.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
