[Q&A] Indoor Stadiums and Religious Facilities Up to 20% Capacity... Changes in Non-Capital Area Level 3 Restrictions

Non-Capital Regions to Apply Level 3 Social Distancing and 5-Person Gathering Restrictions Until the 8th of Next Month

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] The government has ultimately decided to uniformly raise social distancing measures to Level 3 in non-metropolitan areas to curb the spread of COVID-19. This measure will be in effect from 0:00 on the 27th of this month until 24:00 on the 8th of next month.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) announced this strengthening of social distancing measures on the 25th. Kwon Deok-cheol, First Deputy Head of the CDSCH (Minister of Health and Welfare), explained the background of this decision during the regular COVID-19 briefing, stating, "Currently, private gatherings of up to four people are allowed in non-metropolitan areas until this week, but as the outbreak is growing larger, stronger measures are necessary. While movement in the metropolitan area is decreasing, it is increasing in non-metropolitan areas, and cluster infections in multi-use facilities are significant."

Non-metropolitan areas, centered around the Chungcheong region, Gyeongnam region, Gangwon, and Jeju, have shown an increase in confirmed cases for four consecutive weeks. Weekend mobility in non-metropolitan areas during the second week of July (17th-18th) increased by 0.9% compared to the previous week and by 5.3% compared to two weeks prior.

Accordingly, Level 3 social distancing measures and a ban on private gatherings of five or more people will be applied throughout non-metropolitan areas until the 8th of next month. Exceptions are allowed for cohabiting family members, caregivers for children, elderly, and disabled persons performing caregiving activities, and gatherings for end-of-life situations. Direct family members, wedding meetings (up to 8 people), first birthday parties (up to 16 people), gatherings with the minimum number of people required for sports events, and fully vaccinated individuals are exempt from private gathering restrictions. The scope of exceptions can be adjusted by local governments. As an additional preventive measure, nighttime drinking is prohibited in parks, recreational areas, and beaches.

With the application of Level 3, events and assemblies are allowed with fewer than 50 people, and weddings and funerals can have up to 49 attendees. Some multi-use facilities such as entertainment venues, karaoke rooms, bathhouses, restaurants, and cafes must close by 10 PM. Sports viewing is limited to 20% of indoor venue capacity and 30% of outdoor venue capacity. Religious facilities can have up to 20% capacity attendance (with four-seat spacing), but various meetings, events, meals, and overnight stays are prohibited. Below is a Q&A regarding social distancing measures in non-metropolitan areas.

- What is the reason for deciding to apply Level 3 social distancing in non-metropolitan areas?

▲ Currently, the metropolitan area has extended Level 4 social distancing for two weeks, and in non-metropolitan areas, private gatherings of up to four people are allowed until this week. However, as the outbreak in non-metropolitan areas is growing larger, stronger measures are necessary. Cluster infections in multi-use facilities are also significant. Therefore, the government, after discussions with local governments and experts, decided to raise the social distancing level to Level 3 across all non-metropolitan areas from Tuesday, the 27th, to August 8th, for about two weeks. The restriction on private gatherings up to four people will also be extended. The Level 3 upgrade will be applied starting Tuesday after a one-day preparation period, considering the administrative measures of local governments and the preparation of multi-use facilities.

- Are there any exceptions?

▲ For cities and counties with populations under 100,000, where patient occurrence and mobility increases are low, the decision to raise to Level 3 is left to the discretion of local governments.

- Jeonbuk, Jeonnam, and Gyeongbuk are at Level 1, and Chungbuk, Chungnam, Gwangju, Daegu, and Ulsan are at Level 2. There may be backlash that applying Level 3 measures to all is excessive. What is your response?

▲ We deeply regret having to take such measures. However, to prevent the balloon effect in non-metropolitan areas, a unified Level 3 measure was decided upon through consultation with experts and local governments. Under Level 3, operating hours are restricted until 10 PM, but this was an unavoidable measure to reverse the current spread.

- Under Level 3, until what time can multi-use facilities such as restaurants and cafes operate?

▲ In areas where Level 3 social distancing is applied, operating hours for entertainment venues, karaoke rooms, restaurants, cafes, and some other multi-use facilities are limited to 10 PM. Weddings and funerals can have up to 49 attendees, and events and assemblies are also limited to 49 participants. Religious services are limited to 20% capacity.

- Are there additional preventive measures besides Level 3?

▲ Nighttime drinking is prohibited in crowded parks, recreational areas, and beaches. Parties or events hosted by lodging facilities are also prohibited. Additionally, local governments plan to implement further measures such as banning gatherings at entertainment venues and restricting operating hours of indoor sports facilities and academies depending on local situations. Some local governments are actively considering raising to Level 4.

- There was discussion about limiting gatherings to two people after 6 PM in non-metropolitan areas, similar to the metropolitan area. Why was this ultimately not applied?

▲ The measure to allow gatherings of only up to two people after 6 PM is a very strong Level 4 social distancing measure. Currently, the occurrence of confirmed cases and preventive situations in non-metropolitan areas are not uniformly at Level 4. The aim is to stabilize the situation somewhat through Level 3 measures and allowing private gatherings of up to four people.