Jeonnam Province Raises Social Distancing to 'Level 3' for Two Weeks Starting the 27th

Private Gatherings Allowed Up to 4 People · Multi-use Facilities Open Until 10 PM

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam Province's social distancing will be raised to Level 3 for two weeks.

The province announced on the 26th that, in line with the government's policy to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and stabilize the situation, social distancing will be elevated to Level 3 from the 27th until the 8th of next month.

Accordingly, private gatherings will be limited to 4 people, and operating hours for multi-use facilities will be restricted until 10 PM.

Nationwide, new COVID-19 cases have exceeded 1,000 daily for 20 consecutive days, with non-metropolitan areas surpassing 40% compared to the metropolitan area, setting daily records. The spread of the '4th wave' is extending to local regions, creating a very critical situation.

In Jeonnam as well, the average number of confirmed cases over the past week is 19.2, consistently in double digits.

Especially, the Delta variant, which spreads 1.64 times faster than previous strains, is rapidly spreading. The younger population aged 20 to 50, who have not yet been vaccinated, accounts for 70% of all confirmed cases, increasing the risk.

The main quarantine rules for social distancing Level 3 include ▲allowing private gatherings of up to 4 people ▲restricting business hours of multi-use facilities such as entertainment venues from 10 PM to 5 AM the next day, and restaurants and cafes can only offer takeout and delivery after 10 PM.

Additionally, ▲events, assemblies, wedding halls, and funeral halls are limited to fewer than 50 people ▲bathhouses are restricted from operating after 10 PM and sleeping rooms are prohibited, lodging facilities can operate only 3/4 of all rooms ▲religious facilities can allow only up to 20% of their capacity with no meetings, meals, or overnight stays ▲water parks can be used by only up to 30% of their capacity.

Individual quarantine rules include ▲refraining from meetings and outings, complying with basic quarantine rules such as maintaining visitor logs ▲minimizing contact with outsiders during vacation and school break seasons, wearing masks indoors and outdoors ▲periodic ventilation such as cross-ventilation to prevent additional infections caused by air conditioners in multi-use facilities ▲refraining from visiting other regions such as the metropolitan area and undergoing free diagnostic tests immediately upon return if visits are unavoidable ▲entertainment bar, karaoke bar, club (night), emotional bar, hunting bar, and singing practice room workers must comply with administrative orders for weekly diagnostic testing.

Kang Young-gu, Director of the Health and Welfare Bureau, said, “This is a critical time when highly transmissible variants are spreading and tourists visiting Jeonnam during the vacation season make it impossible to lower our guard even for a moment. Just as the vaccination rate exceeded 40% nationwide for the first time thanks to the active cooperation of residents, we ask everyone to actively participate in the vaccination process so that Jeonnam can be the first in the country to remove masks and return to daily life, and to strictly follow basic quarantine rules.”

Meanwhile, Jeonnam Province plans to strengthen on-site inspections of multi-use facilities such as entertainment venues during the special quarantine period and apply a zero-tolerance policy for violations of quarantine rules.