Starting Tomorrow, 'Relaxed Social Distancing'... Government: "Entertainment Venues Must Observe 10 PM Closing Time"

Minister of Health and Welfare Kwon Deok-cheol (First Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters) is speaking while presiding over the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting for COVID-19 response held at the Government Seoul Office Building on the afternoon of the 17th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-seop] As relaxed social distancing measures are set to be implemented for two weeks starting on the 18th, the government has requested that entertainment facilities in Level 3 areas maintain their operating hours until 10 PM.

On this day, Kwon Deok-cheol, Minister of Health and Welfare, stated in his opening remarks at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting, “Some non-metropolitan local governments have announced plans to extend operating hours for entertainment facilities, etc. The restriction on operating hours is a measure decided after careful deliberation because uniform measures are necessary nationwide ahead of the phased recovery of daily life.”

Minister Kwon emphasized, “We request that the relevant local governments implement operating hours until 10 PM.” This is to stress that people should not let their guard down just because a new social distancing adjustment plan will be implemented for two weeks starting tomorrow.

He added, “We must keep in mind the lessons from foreign cases experiencing rapid spread due to premature relaxation of quarantine rules.”

The government decided to ease social distancing and quarantine rules for two weeks before the ‘phased recovery of daily life,’ focusing on low-risk facilities and fully vaccinated individuals. In non-metropolitan areas, restaurant and cafe operating hours have been extended from 10 PM to midnight. However, the six types of entertainment facilities can only operate until 10 PM as before. Nevertheless, Gwangju City announced plans to extend operating hours for entertainment facilities until midnight.

He stated, “The remaining two weeks of October will be the final hurdle in taking steps toward phased recovery of daily life,” and expressed, “I sincerely hope that phased recovery of daily life can proceed from next month.”