Yeonggwang-gun Implements Special Quarantine Measures from the 6th... Private Gatherings Limited to 8 People

[Yeonggwang=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jeonseong] On the 6th, Yeonggwang-gun, Jeollanam-do held a meeting of the COVID-19 Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters chaired by the county governor in the small conference room of the county office, and implemented the "Strengthened phased daily recovery quarantine rules" following the government's special quarantine measures.

According to the county on that day, this plan considered the continuous spread of infection with daily confirmed cases exceeding 5,000 since last month after the relaxation of quarantine measures, the increase in severe patients, the decrease in medical capacity, the domestic inflow and community spread of the new variant "Omicron," among other factors.

Accordingly, while focusing on additional vaccinations and vaccinations for the unvaccinated, quarantine measures will be strengthened, including adjusting the number of private gatherings, expanding facilities subject to mandatory quarantine passes, and reducing the age exceptions for quarantine passes.

The adjustment of the number of private gatherings will be implemented for four weeks from that day until January 2, next year, and the period may be adjusted depending on the epidemic situation.

To reduce the risk of infection through personal contact, private gatherings are limited to up to 8 people regardless of vaccination status.

However, existing exceptions such as cohabiting family members, caregivers for children, elderly, and disabled persons, and end-of-life care will continue to be maintained.

The facilities subject to mandatory quarantine passes such as vaccination proof and negative test confirmation will be expanded from the existing 5 types to 16 types, and to minimize confusion on site, a one-week guidance period until the 12th has been granted for the 11 newly added facilities subject to mandatory quarantine passes.

The existing 5 types of facilities are ▲entertainment facilities (including pubs, karaoke bars, clubs/nightclubs, hunting bars, emotional pubs, colatecs/dance halls) ▲singing (coin) practice rooms ▲indoor sports facilities ▲bathhouses ▲bicycle racing, motorboat racing, horse racing, and casinos.

The 11 newly added facilities are ▲restaurants and cafes ▲academies, etc. ▲movie theaters and performance halls ▲reading rooms and study cafes ▲multi-rooms (excluding arcades) ▲PC rooms ▲indoor sports game (spectator) venues ▲museums, art galleries, and science centers ▲party rooms ▲libraries ▲massage and bodywork establishments.

Restaurants and cafes, where mask-wearing is difficult, will be subject to quarantine passes; however, considering their nature as essential facilities, only one unvaccinated person is allowed within the private gathering limit of 8 people.

To suppress the spread of infection among adolescents, the age range for quarantine pass exceptions will be reduced from under 18 to under 11 years old, and a grace period will be given to increase adolescent vaccination rates, with implementation scheduled from February 1 next year.

Existing administrative orders such as diagnostic testing for vulnerable quarantine facilities will be maintained.

Those subject to diagnostic testing once every two weeks, including operators and workers (both foreigners and Koreans), include ▲foreign employment workplaces ▲coastal fishing vessels with foreign crew members boarding or disembarking ▲operators, workers, and users of employment agencies. Fully vaccinated persons are excluded from testing, but those vaccinated with the Janssen vaccine are excluded only after 14 days following an additional vaccination.

Those subject to diagnostic testing once a week include ▲nursing hospitals and facilities ▲psychiatric hospitals and facilities ▲elderly day and night care centers (including users) ▲bathhouses. Fully vaccinated persons are included except for those 14 days after additional vaccination, and newly hired or transferred workers must confirm a negative diagnostic test within 48 hours.

A county official said, "The spread of COVID-19 infection is very rapid nationwide, and confirmed cases have been occurring daily in the area recently, making the situation very serious. We ask the residents to voluntarily practice quarantine measures such as refraining from year-end gatherings and travel, avoiding visits and contact with other regions, and mandatory mask-wearing indoors and outdoors, and to actively participate in preventive vaccinations."

Yeonggwang=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jeonseong leejs7879@asiae.co.kr