The Transition Committee Requests Relaxation of Social Distancing to 10 People and Midnight Curfew... "Relaxation Should Occur When the Peak Declines" (Comprehensive)

An "Government to Conduct COVID-19 Antibody Formation Rate Survey with 10,000 Participants"

Ahn Cheol-soo, Chairman of the Presidential Transition Committee, is briefing the Special Committee for COVID-19 Emergency Response at the Transition Committee briefing room in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 30th. Photo by Transition Committee Press Corps

[Asia Economy reporters Ki-min Lee and Byung-don Yoo] Ahn Cheol-soo, chairman of the presidential transition committee, requested the government on the 30th to ease operating hours for restaurants and cafes from 11 p.m. to midnight and to expand the allowed number of people from 8 to 10.

On the 30th, Chairman Ahn held a briefing at the transition committee office in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, explaining the progress of the COVID-19 Emergency Response Special Committee's activities.

The transition committee reportedly requested the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) to implement the eased measures starting from the 4th of next month, when the current social distancing rules limiting private gatherings to 8 people and business hours to 11 p.m. expire.

The committee is also known to be continuing discussions with the final goal of abolishing operating hour restrictions, a pledge made by President-elect Yoon during his presidential campaign.

Regarding the government's social distancing measures, Chairman Ahn pointed out, "(The Omicron variant) spread more because social distancing was weakened while cases were still increasing," adding, "It is appropriate to ease social distancing to some extent when the peak is confirmed and cases are on a downward trend."

He continued, "Although the situation is still somewhat unstable, many experts commonly believe that a decline will begin in March," and concerning the current 'private gatherings limited to 8 people and business hours restricted to 11 p.m.,' he said, "We have requested the CDSCH to gradually ease social distancing once the decline in spread is clearly confirmed, and we are awaiting their response." He added, "We expect an announcement soon regarding the easing of social distancing measures after confirming a decrease in confirmed cases."

Won Il-hee, senior deputy spokesperson of the transition committee, elaborated, "Although Chairman Ahn is a scientist, the assurance that the Omicron peak has passed must be based on scientific data, not political judgment," and explained, "The data handed over to the transition committee by the quarantine authorities comes from 11 institutions assessing whether the Omicron peak has passed. Nine of these institutions concluded that the peak has passed, and the vast majority of experts attending the data analysis group meetings agreed that the data supports this interpretation. Therefore, the transition committee requested a full repeal review."

Chairman Ahn also said, "Regarding support for self-employed and small business owners, we requested the government to extend once more the temporary exemption from the ban on disposable products, which was set to expire on April 1," adding, "The Ministry of Environment is also moving toward a direction of extension rather than a complete ban and is positively reviewing this."

Furthermore, Chairman Ahn pointed out a blind spot in estimating the economic losses caused by COVID-19, saying, "Budgets necessary for quarantine have been omitted so far, but it is necessary to properly estimate these parts and transparently communicate them to gain public understanding."

He stated, "There are more omissions in the budget estimates than expected. We need to address this so that the overall estimated budget size can be grasped," and revealed plans to focus on this issue in the special committee’s livelihood and economy subcommittee going forward.

Regarding the specific budget estimation method, he explained, "We are estimating the compensation for losses or necessary finances while simultaneously examining how to maintain fiscal soundness and what the proper mix is," adding, "There may be cash support, but on the other hand, there are also methods like loans and tax credits."

The transition committee also explained that it plans to conduct a COVID-19 antibody positivity rate sample survey with a scale of 10,000 people. Chairman Ahn said, "In the Omicron era, antibody positivity rate sample surveys have become more necessary than before," and added, "The government has decided to conduct an antibody positivity rate survey with 10,000 people." He continued, "Because this is scientific data helpful for quarantine management, we insisted on the need for this, and the government accepted it," concluding, "One by one, things based on the scientific quarantine approach we advocated are being established."