[Issue Q&A] Tomorrow, Social Distancing Returns... Must Carry Quarantine Pass When Going to Restaurants

Private Gathering Limits: 6 People in Seoul Metropolitan Area, 8 People in Non-Metropolitan Areas
Vaccine Pass Required for Restaurants, Cafes, and Study Rooms
From February Next Year, Vaccine Pass Also Applies to Those Born Before 2009

On the 3rd, a notice regarding restrictions on the number of private gathering members is posted at a Chinese restaurant in Daebang-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] As the number of new domestic COVID-19 cases continues to exceed 5,000 daily, the government is implementing a 4-week "special quarantine measure" to curb the spread. The current private gathering limits of 10 people in the metropolitan area and 12 people in non-metropolitan areas will be lowered to 6 and 8 people respectively, reducing year-end and New Year gatherings. Additionally, a vaccination certificate and negative test confirmation system (quarantine pass) will be introduced in high transmission risk places such as restaurants and cafes. From February next year, the scope of the quarantine pass will be expanded to include adolescents who were previously exempt.

We have summarized the key questions regarding the special quarantine measures that will take effect the very next day.

Q. How will the private gathering limits change? Previously, exceptions were allowed for cohabiting family members; will this remain the same?

A. From the 6th for 4 weeks, the maximum allowed number for private gatherings will change from 10 people in the metropolitan area and 12 in non-metropolitan areas to 6 and 8 people respectively. This applies regardless of vaccination status. The existing exceptions for cohabiting family members, children, elderly, and those requiring care due to disabilities will be maintained. However, traditional pre-wedding meetings (sang-gyeon-je), which were previously exempt from the limit, will now be considered general private gatherings and thus subject to the 6-person limit in the metropolitan area and 8-person limit in non-metropolitan areas.

Q. Will the number of attendees allowed at weddings decrease with the strengthened distancing measures?

A. The standards for gatherings and events including weddings, assemblies, and demonstrations outside of private gatherings will remain unchanged. For weddings, the limit is one person per 4 square meters of the wedding hall area; if all attendees are fully vaccinated, up to 499 people are allowed, and if up to 49 unvaccinated people are included, the limit is 250 people. For general events with 99 or fewer attendees, attendance is allowed regardless of vaccination status, and if all are fully vaccinated, up to 499 people can gather.

Q. Which facilities will newly require the quarantine pass?

A. Newly included facilities are restaurants and cafes, academies, movie theaters and performance halls, reading rooms and study cafes, multi-rooms (excluding arcades), PC rooms, indoor sports stadiums, museums, art galleries, science centers, party rooms, libraries, and massage and bodywork establishments. Wedding halls, funeral homes, shops, marts, department stores, outdoor sports stadiums, outdoor sports facilities, kids cafes, first birthday parties (doljan-chi), exhibitions, and fairs are not included. However, even in department stores and large marts where the quarantine pass is not applied, food courts and dining areas inside are classified as restaurants and thus subject to the quarantine pass. The expansion of the quarantine pass will begin on the 6th, but a one-week grace period will be implemented to prevent confusion on-site.

On the 3rd, when the government announced that the maximum number of private gatherings would be limited to 6 people in the metropolitan area and 8 people in non-metropolitan areas for 4 weeks, a related notice was posted at a restaurant in Sejong City. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Q. How will the quarantine pass apply to restaurants and cafes? Do I need to carry a quarantine pass if I go to a restaurant alone?

A. The quarantine pass will not apply to a single unvaccinated person at restaurants and cafes. For example, if three unvaccinated and three vaccinated people dine together, the three vaccinated individuals must show proof of vaccination, and at least two of the three unvaccinated individuals must present a negative PCR test result. If dining alone, you do not need to prepare a quarantine pass.

This exception for one unvaccinated person is to allow unvaccinated individuals to use restaurants and cafes. Authorities explain, "Considering the necessity of having meals at restaurants and cafes, one unvaccinated person is allowed to use these facilities." This means that either a single unvaccinated person dining alone or one unvaccinated person among a group is exempted. Unvaccinated individuals are freely allowed up to one person per group, and solo dining ('honbap') or solo cafe visits ('honkaw') are fully permitted.

Q. Can recovered patients and those exempted from vaccination for medical reasons use the newly added quarantine pass facilities?

A. From the 6th, the newly added quarantine pass facilities such as academies, movie theaters, reading rooms, and PC rooms will apply the same level of quarantine pass as existing indoor sports facilities and karaoke rooms. Even among current quarantine pass facilities, different levels of quarantine pass are applied depending on the facility's characteristics. High-risk transmission venues like entertainment establishments are accessible only to fully vaccinated and recovered individuals. Horse racing, bicycle racing, motorboat racing, casinos, visits to hospitalized or institutionalized persons, and facilities for the elderly and disabled require full vaccination, recovery, or a negative PCR test.

Other indoor sports facilities, bathhouses, karaoke rooms, etc., allow entry to fully vaccinated, recovered, PCR negative, medically exempted individuals, and those aged 18 and under. This standard applies to all newly added facilities.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Q. From February next year, the quarantine pass will be expanded to adolescents; how will it be applied?

A. From February next year, the quarantine pass will apply to adolescents aged 12 to 18. Both the quarantine pass target and the recommended vaccination age will be based on "international age." Accordingly, both the age eligible for vaccination starting January 1 and the age subject to the quarantine pass from February 1 will generally include those born in 2010.

However, the health authorities have decided to postpone the application of the quarantine pass for children born in 2010 and their guardians to allow them time to understand the necessity, effectiveness, and safety of vaccination and to prepare for vaccination. Although the vaccination age is 12 and above, the quarantine pass will effectively apply to those aged 13 and above.

Therefore, from February next year, the quarantine pass will apply only to those born in 2009 or earlier. Considering the 3-week vaccination interval and 2-week antibody formation period, they must start vaccination by January 27 at the latest to use academies, libraries, etc., without a PCR negative certificate.

Q. How long will these distancing measures be maintained?

A. The reduction in private gathering limits will be implemented for 4 weeks from the 6th to February 2. Afterwards, adjustments such as restoration to previous standards, maintenance, or strengthening will be considered based on the quarantine situation. The expansion of quarantine pass target facilities will continue indefinitely. The authorities plan to continuously expand the quarantine pass without strictly adhering to the 4-week period. However, facilities deemed to have low infection risk during operation will be evaluated and adjusted accordingly.