On the 22nd, elementary school students and children were waiting to be tested at a temporary screening clinic set up in Doan-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporters Yongwoo Kim and Sanghyun Lee] Gimhae City in Gyeongnam Province is raising its social distancing level to the current strongest Level 4.
Gimhae City announced on the 26th that from midnight on the 27th until the 8th of next month, social distancing will be raised to the highest Level 4 for 13 days.
A Gimhae City official explained, "In the past week, 186 COVID-19 confirmed cases have occurred, averaging 27 cases per day. This exceeds the Level 4 social distancing criteria, and with the continued increase in cases, raising to Level 4 has become unavoidable."
The Level 4 social distancing criterion is an average of 4 or more cases per day per 100,000 population. For Gimhae City, exceeding 22 cases per day surpasses the Level 4 threshold.
If the weekly average exceeds the criterion for 3 or more days, the level is raised. Due to the spread of cluster infections originating from entertainment establishments, Gimhae exceeded the Level 4 criteria from mid-month, but maintained Level 3 social distancing to minimize damage to small business owners and self-employed individuals.
When social distancing is raised to Level 4, private gatherings are allowed up to 4 people during the day, but only up to 2 people after 6 p.m. All events and assemblies, except for one-person protests, are prohibited.
Schools can only conduct remote classes. Wedding halls and funeral halls are allowed up to 49 attendees, and religious facilities can only hold non-face-to-face meetings.
In addition to entertainment facilities subject to closure orders, Gimhae City has also imposed closure orders on singing practice rooms.
Bathhouses, indoor sports facilities, academies, movie theaters, reading rooms, beauty salons, arcades, PC rooms, large marts, and department stores may operate only until 10 p.m. Restaurants and cafes are allowed only takeout and delivery after 10 p.m.
Mayor Heo Seong-gon of Gimhae City earnestly requested, "To quickly overcome this crisis, I sincerely ask all citizens to participate in a 'brief pause' by refraining from private gatherings."
Gyeongnam Province will raise the social distancing level to Level 3 across all areas except Gimhae City starting at midnight on the 27th.
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