Stranded With Corona... Social Distancing Announcement on the Morning of the 16th

Gathering Ban Likely for Groups of 4 and After 10 PM

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum is giving an opening remark at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting on COVID-19 held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 15th. At the meeting, Prime Minister Kim said, "We are reviewing measures that include further reduction of private gathering sizes and restrictions on business hours, and we will finalize and announce them as soon as possible." Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Chunhee Lee] The government will announce strengthened 'social distancing' measures on the morning of the 16th, one day earlier than initially expected.

According to the government on the 15th, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum will preside over the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) the next morning and announce special measures to halt the 'gradual recovery to daily life (With Corona)' and return to social distancing.

The CDSCH was originally scheduled to meet on the morning of the 17th, but considering the urgency of the recent COVID-19 spread, the meeting was moved up by one day. However, taking into account the circumstances of self-employed individuals, the actual implementation of social distancing will begin on the weekend, the 18th. The measures will be implemented for about two weeks until the 2nd of next month and then reassessed based on the quarantine situation.

Currently, private gatherings are limited to 6 people in the metropolitan area and 8 people in non-metropolitan areas, but the size will be reduced back to 4 people. Operating hours for multi-use facilities, which were lifted except for entertainment establishments, are likely to be restricted to 9 PM or 10 PM. In the metropolitan area, where the spread is severe, there is also a possibility that gatherings will be limited to only 2 people after 6 PM.

Prime Minister Kim previously stated, "We are taking the current quarantine situation very seriously and intend to implement stronger social distancing measures," adding, "We are considering measures that include further reductions in private gathering sizes and restrictions on operating hours."