Considering the 4th wave situation, extension again... Jeon Hae-cheol "Non-metropolitan areas cannot be safe either, private gathering movements must be reduced"
Request for KCTU to refrain from rallies... Strict response policy
Jeon Hae-cheol, the 2nd Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety), is delivering opening remarks at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting for COVID-19 response held on the 23rd at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The government will extend the Level 4 social distancing measures in the Seoul metropolitan area for two weeks to respond to the rapidly increasing trend of COVID-19 confirmed cases. The ban on private gatherings of three or more people, allowing only two people after 6 p.m., will also be extended for two weeks until the 8th of next month. Additionally, the government announced a strict response policy if the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) violates quarantine rules amid their decision to hold a rally in Wonju, Gangwon Province.
Jeon Hae-cheol, the 2nd Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety), stated in the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on the 23rd, "Considering the overall situation of the 4th wave, we will extend the current Level 4 social distancing measures applied in the metropolitan area," and added, "The ban on private gatherings of three or more people after 6 p.m. will also be extended for the next two weeks."
The measures, initially set to be implemented until the 25th, will be uniformly extended until the 8th of next month in consideration of the 4th wave situation. Minister Jeon explained the reason for extending the distancing measures, saying, "Today's number of confirmed cases is expected to be in the early 1600s. During the 3rd wave, the daily confirmed cases were about 660, but now, experiencing the 4th wave, the number is around 1410, more than double in scale."
He emphasized that non-metropolitan areas cannot be considered safe either. He said, "The metropolitan area, which accounts for 70% of confirmed cases, has seen an increase in cases from 799 to 990 compared to before the implementation of Level 4 distancing," and added, "Non-metropolitan areas are also not safe. To curb the widespread infection trend occurring in various daily spaces including multi-use facilities, we have no choice but to reduce private gatherings and movement."
Regarding the rally that the KCTU decided to hold in Wonju, Gangwon Province, on the same day, he also announced a strict response policy. Minister Jeon said, "The KCTU plans a rally with more than 1,000 participants in the Gangwon region today," and emphasized, "We strongly request restraint from holding rallies considering the serious situation, and if a prohibited rally violating quarantine rules is forcibly held, the government will respond strictly according to law and principles."
He also urged responses to infection spread due to travel during the vacation season. Minister Jeon said, "The spread of infection during vacation travel is also a major concern. Please disperse vacations as much as possible under strict compliance with quarantine rules," and added, "Local governments should make every effort to identify and manage contacts through rapid epidemiological investigations, and especially in non-metropolitan areas, conduct thorough on-site inspections focusing on tourist spots."
Meanwhile, the government will start vaccinations targeting 3.52 million people aged 55 to 59 from next Monday. From the 16th of next month, vaccinations will be administered to 3.9 million people aged 50 to 54, followed by vaccinations for those aged 49 and below.
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